The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has said it is “deeply concerned” about the crisis between Israel and militants group, Hamas, while calling for ceasefire and dialogue on the outbreak.
The Palestinian armed group, Hamas, launched an attack on Saturday against Israel.
The attack code-named “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”, is the most serious escalation since Israel and Hamas fought an 11-day war in 2021.
Medical sources in Gaza confirmed that at least 232 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air attacks launched after a Hamas offensive against Israel that killed at least 200 citizens.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu in a televised address, had promised that Israel would defeat Hamas, but the fighting “will take time”.
In a statement signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria said the escalation between both countries would result in an unending cycle of pain and suffering for the civilian population, advising that both parties should exercise restraint and prioritise the safety of civilians.
The statement read, “The Federal Government of Nigeria is deeply concerned about the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the early hours of Saturday, October 7 2023, and calls for de-escalation and ceasefire.
“The cycle of violence and retaliation that the current escalation has assumed only serves to perpetuate an unending cycle of pain and suffering for the civilian population, that bears the brunt of every conflict.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, therefore, calls on both sides to exercise restraint, prioritise the safety of civilians and give room for humanitarian considerations.
“We are therefore calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue.”