A Lagos based Human Rights lawyer, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo has sent a petition to the Nigerian Senate asking the National Assembly to pass a resolution condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza by acknowledging the genocide and ethnic cleansing being carried out by Israeli on the Palestinians in Gaza and environs.
Omirhobo in the letter titled ” urgent condemnation of the on-going unabated genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza” stated that as a concerned citizen of Nigeria and a global human right advocate, he is. compelled to draw the attention of the Nigerian Government to the appalling human rights abuses culminating in genocide and ethnic cleansing unfurling in Gaza.
He added that it is of great importance that the Nigerian Government acknowledges the holocaust and takes a stance, as remaining silent or feigning ignorance would be unscrupulous given the graveness of the situation.
The human right activist stated that disgustingly Israeli soldiers and settlers with impunity document their crime against humanity on their phones which are being screamed to the whole world to see their evil acts.
“Armless and defenceless Palestine civilians, babies, children, women and men are being killed and over 127,394 wounded mostly women and children. “
“An estimated 10,000 people trapped under rubble as a result of Israeli bombing that can only be equated with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki put together”
Omirhobo alleged that the Israeli government is weaponizing and food as they cruelly shoot and kill starving people queuing at food sites after luring them there and also refuse food and relief materials to enter into Gaza.
He added that over one million Palestinians face emergency levels of food insecurity, with verified reports of children dying from starvation.
The activist further stated that almost half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are non-functional, with critical shortages of medications and medical supplies. As if this is not bad enough, the Israeli soldiers have taken delight in attacking and killing medical doctors, health workers and aid workers in their hundreds.
“All Israel has done so far and is doing in Gaza has met with the definition of the what genocide is as per The Genocide Convention of 1948 which defines genocide as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical racial, or religious group, including:
. Killing members of the group
. Causing serious bodily or mental harm
. Deliberately inflicting conditions to bring about physical destruction
. Imposing measures to prevent birth
. Forcibly transferring children out of the group.
Consequently the activist demand as follows:
1 That the Senate pass a resolution condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza, acknowledging the genocide and ethnic cleansing being carried by Israeli on the Palestinians in Gaza and environs.
2. That the Senate consider imposing sanctions on Israel, such as economic or diplomatic measures, to pressure them to change their polities.
3. That the Senate sanction the Israel officials involved in the genocide and ethnic cleansing.
4. that the Senate review Nigeria’s diplomatic relationship with Israel, potentially downgrading or suspending relations until the situation in Gaza improves.
5. that the Senate allocate funds or resources to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza, providing aid to affected civilian.
In addition to the above, I encourage the Senate to work with international organizations, such as the United Nations, to stop the genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
