Comoros FM accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza

Comorian President Azali Assoumani addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City on September 20, 2023. (AFP)
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  • ‘Our country extends its full support to the brotherly people of Palestine,’ Mbae Mohamed tells UN General Assembly — Expresses ‘great concern’ over Sudan civil war, urges ‘all parties’ to ‘protect the civilian populati

WASHINGTON: Mbae Mohamed, the foreign minister of Comoros, on Thursday said his country fully supports the Palestinian people’s quest of independence and freedom from the Israeli occupation, and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

“The indiscriminate killing of Palestinians by Israel is the purest form of genocide perpetrated by Israeli forces in Gaza which we condemn, and there’s an urgent need to end it,” Mbae Mohamed told the UN General Assembly.

He urged the international community to act immediately to bring a halt to Israel’s war on Gaza, adding that more than 41,000 Palestinians — including women and children — have been killed, and most buildings and civilian infrastructure in the enclave have been completely destroyed.

“Our country extends its full support to the brotherly people of Palestine, and we call on the international community to act for an immediate ceasefire and rapid resumption of deliveries of humanitarian assistance,” Mohamed said.

Comoros also views the situation in the occupied West Bank with “great concern” as Israeli settlers and army units use extreme violence against Palestinians there, he added.

More than 500 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since last October, according to the UN.

Mohamed said Comoros supports a fair and lasting solution to end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, rooted in international law and relevant UN resolutions that call for a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as Palestine’s capital.

He “applauded” the UNGA’s overwhelming vote in May calling on the Security Council to grant Palestine full UN membership while enhancing its rights and privileges.

Mohamad, whose nation is a member of the Arab League and the African Union, said Comoros is greatly concerned about the civil war in Sudan that has killed thousands and displaced around 10 million people, according to UN figures.

“The situation in Sudan is of great concern to us, and we call on all parties to exercise restraint and to protect the civilian population from the atrocities of war,” he said.