‘Children are dying’ — Akpabio calls for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war at IPU assembly

Godswill Akpabio, senate president, has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Akpabio spoke at the 148th general assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The IPU is the global organisation of national parliaments. Founded in 1889, it is dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue.

The organisation has over 179 countries as members.

This year’s IPU general assembly, themed ‘Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding’, addresses various issues, including the Israeli-Hamas war in the Middle East.

Akpabio told the assembly that collective action must be taken to end the war, in order to prevent further deaths of children.

Akpabio, who is a member of the IPU executive committee, harped on the need to set aside ego for peace, insisting that the assembly session must not conclude without taking action to achieve a ceasefire.

“This is a lone voice from Nigeria. We tried our best in Angola and we failed to lend a collective voice towards what is happening in Gaza. Today, the world is very expectant,” Akpabio said, referring to the IPU’s 147th general assembly held in October in Luanda, Angola.

“We must drop [our] ego. It has nothing to do with which country brings a proposal. The basic tenets of humanity demand that we leave here with resolutions for the rest of the world: to show that we have humane feelings in us. The issues are very clear.

“South Africa has a right to be emotional, but we have children who are dying, even as we are talking now. We have people who cannot see water to drink. Those who are going to suffer from infections due to gunshots.”

‘CEASFIRE MUST BE PART OF RESOLUTIONS’

Akpabio suggested that a three-member committee from the assembly should be set up and tasked with formulating resolutions for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict.

“We have to show the world that we are human beings. Cessation of hostilities must be part of our resolutions. Access to humanitarian aid must be part of our resolutions. At the same time, release some hostages and even those who are possibly prisoners of war,” Akpabio said.

“If both sides take these steps, it means that they agree that the international community can go to the next stage which is negotiation for sustainable peace.

“If they cannot agree, I urge that we can now have a small 3-man drafting committee to come up with those resolutions which must be made before we leave here.

“We can no longer allow a child to die tonight without presenting our voice. It doesn’t matter which side. We are all parents. If we come here to look for ego then it’s not affecting them.

“There’s nothing affecting Denmark here, South Africa. The people affected are over there. And then, of course, nobody will agree to the lone resolution from Israel.

“It must be all-encompassing so that we stand up from here as human beings. That will be my plea. Let them go aside, meet and remove those vexatious items.

“In the course of discussions, we can have amendments and add items we feel should be added but we must discuss the Gaza issue in this 148th IPU Assembly. That’s my position.”

In December, South Africa filed an application against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the country of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

About 32,000 people have been reported to have been killed in the war, which began after Hamas invaded Israeli territory on October 7, 2023.