Senator Akpabio Calls For An To the Israel-Hamas Conflict

“Children are dying,” Akpabio said at the IPU assembly, calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict

The president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has demanded an instant truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking during the Inter-Parliamentary Union's (IPU) 148th general session in Geneva, Switzerland, was Akpabio.

The international organization of national parliaments is called the IPU. It was established in 1889 with the goal of advancing peace via conversation and parliamentary diplomacy.

The organization has members from more than 179 nations.

The topic of this year's IPU general assembly is “Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding,” which touches on a number of topics, including the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Speaking to the assembly, Akpabio said that in order to stop more child fatalities from the war, everyone involved must work together to put an end to it.

The IPU executive committee member Akpabio repeatedly emphasized the need to put aside ego for peace, stating that the assembly session cannot end without taking steps to establish a truce.

Speaking on the IPU's 147th general meeting, which took place in October in Luanda, Angola, Akpabio stated, “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.”

“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.”

'RESOLUTIONS MUST INCLUDE CEASFIRE'

Akpabio proposed that a committee consisting of three assembly members be established and assigned the responsibility of devising proposals for an instantaneous cessation of hostilities.

“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.”

South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December, alleging Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians living in Gaza.

Since Hamas seized Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, there have been around 32,000 documented deaths in the conflict.