President Bola Tinubu, during his address at the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, expressed deep concern over the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, criticizing its prolonged nature and the immense suffering it has caused.
He reiterated Nigeria’s stance on a two-state solution as a key pathway to resolving the crisis and ensuring lasting peace in the region.
Tinubu, speaking at the extraordinary summit convened to address the escalating tensions in the Middle East, condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza. He described the humanitarian conditions in Gaza as dire and called for an immediate ceasefire. He argued that Israel’s actions were exacerbating the crisis, noting that no political or military objective should come at the expense of innocent lives, according to ThisDay.
“The conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering on countless lives.
‘’As representatives of nations that value justice, dignity, and the sanctity of human life, we have a moral obligation to collectively bring about an immediate end to this conflict.
‘’It is not enough to issue empty condemnations. The world must work towards an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, which has persisted for far too long.
“No political aim, no military strategy, and no security concern should come at the expense of so many innocent lives,’’ he said.
The summit, a follow-up to the Riyadh summit held the previous year, brought together Heads of State and Government from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States. In his remarks, President Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s unwavering support for a two-state solution, which he believes remains the most viable path to peace, allowing both Israelis and Palestinians to coexist in security and dignity.
He called on the international community to move beyond mere condemnation and work actively to end the violence.
He further stressed that any military action should respect the principles of proportionality and the basic rights of civilians.
Tinubu explained that Nigeria’s support for the two-state solution is grounded in principles of equality, mutual recognition, and self-determination for both peoples. He pointed out that the conflict’s roots go beyond recent events, emphasizing that a peaceful resolution would require dialogue, historical understanding, and compromise from all parties involved.
The Nigerian leader also commended Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for convening the summit, describing it as an essential opportunity to revive diplomatic efforts for peace. Tinubu expressed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting international initiatives aimed at promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, drawing on the lessons learned from Nigeria’s own experiences with diversity and reconciliation.
In addition to his call for a two-state solution, President Tinubu proposed the establishment of a secretariat to oversee the implementation of the summit’s resolutions. He suggested that a select group of Heads of Government should be mandated to rally global support and ensure the consistent implementation of these resolutions, with regular progress reports submitted to the OIC and Arab League leadership until permanent peace is achieved.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in his opening remarks, condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, particularly the targeting of civilians and the violations of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He also criticized Israel’s ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency from delivering aid to Palestinians and the displacement of Lebanese people. The Crown Prince emphasized Saudi Arabia’s commitment to promoting Palestinian statehood based on the 1967 borders and called for the expansion of the Global Coalition, which includes the European Union and Norway, to further support this cause.
