- Palestinian Ambassador Abdullah Shawesh vehemently opposes potential Israeli plans for the “voluntary migration” of Palestinians, emphasizing a strong stance against forced relocation
- Shawesh urges global support in holding Israel accountable, citing South Africa’s lead in submitting evidence of Israel’s breaches of legal obligations
Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Nigeria, adamantly declared that Palestinians would not accept another Nakba, referencing the catastrophic displacement during and after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Shawesh emphasized this stance during a press conference in Abuja on Friday, vehemently opposing the potential relocation of Palestinians by Israel.
Recent reports suggest that the Israeli government is engaging in discussions with Congo and other nations for the “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from Gaza. The proposal arises amidst controversial calls by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to encourage Jewish settlers to return to the Gaza Strip, urging the Palestinian population to emigrate.
Shawesh firmly stated, “Israel political leaders are discussing this solution with many African countries, but we will not accept another Nakba.” The envoy urged other nations to follow South Africa’s lead in supporting international law and justice by pursuing legal action against Israel for alleged genocide against the Palestinian people.
“We also urge all countries that side with Israel’s acts of genocide and are neglecting to condemn Israel’s war crimes to acknowledge what is actually happening and to review their moral and legal position,” Shawesh continued. He criticized countries providing military support to Israel, labelling the Israeli government’s behaviour as a form of genocide against the Palestinian people.
Highlighting South Africa’s submission of an 84-page document documenting evidence of Israel’s breach of legal obligations under the 1948 International Genocide Convention, Shawesh called for a global acknowledgement of the ongoing crisis in Palestine. The ambassador’s strong stance reflects the Palestinian commitment to resisting any attempts at forced relocation and seeking international support in holding Israel accountable for its actions.