‘We condemn attacks on women, children in Gaza’ — Shiites protest in Abuja

On Friday, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) staged a protest denouncing attacks on women and children in Gaza amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Yesterday, Reuters quoted the Palestinian health ministry as saying 447 children and 248 women were among the 1,417 killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip.

The ministry also reported that since Saturday, 6,268 people have sustained injuries.

The protest by IMN began at the well-known Annur Mosque in Wuse 11 along IBB Way, right after the Juma’at Prayer, and concluded at the traffic light on Ahmadu Bello Way, where American and Israeli flags were set ablaze.

In a statement, Sheikh Sidi Munir Sokoto, a member of the movement, urged Nigerians to support the “oppressed” Palestinians.

“We are protesting to condemn the killing of Palestinians in Gaza by the soldiers of the illegal state of Israel,” the statement reads.

Sokoto said trustworthy accounts verified that numerous Palestinians lost their lives, and thousands suffered injuries.

“In February 2019, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) published a damning indictment against the illegal state of Israel. According to the COI, Israeli soldiers have been deliberately shooting civilians, killing and maiming unarmed people including children as well as journalists and medics in Gaza.”

He added that Israel is in breach of international law and the Palestinians are fighting to “liberate their homeland from 75 years of Israeli oppression and terrorism”.

“The Israeli military and settlers are the terrorists as they have been killing and abducting Palestinian females and children for many years, not the Palestinian freedom fighters who are demanding the right to return for those unjustly driven out of their homeland by the illegal state of Israel. Armed struggle is legitimate under international law.”

Furthermore, he said Gaza has experienced an Israeli blockade since June 2007, leading to a deterioration in living conditions. He added that “supporting the people of Palestine is a duty upon all humans”.

Sheikh Sokoto urged Israeli soldiers to cease missile and rocket attacks on innocent women and children in villages. Instead, they should confront Hamas fighters defending their people.

“Calling people to support justice everywhere and opposing tyranny and oppression everywhere is part of the teachings of our leader Shaikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky (H). For more than three decades, the Islamic movement under the leadership of his eminence, Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) has been organizing programmes and protests in support of the oppressed people of Palestine.”

He urged Nigerians to speak out and support the “oppressed Palestinians”.

While condemning the attack on Palestinians, Sokoto expressed support for the Palestine resistance movement, adding that there are “both Christians and Muslims in Gaza.”