• Why nations, individuals should support Palestine
One of Nigeria’s prominent civic groups, Muslim Awareness International (MAI) has said that the decade-long crisis between Israel and Palestine is one between highly militarised occupiers in Israel and oppressed Palestinians.
The Director of the group, Abdul Waheed Atoyebi, disclosed on Wednesday, September 27, at the 2023 edition of the annual Aqsa Day which has been decentralised and held across 10 districts in Lagos State and its environs.
Muslim News gathered that the event has been annually held over the years at a central venue in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria and the economic hub of West Africa, on the 12th day of the Islamic month of Rabiul Awwal, coinciding with the Mawlid Nabiyy public holiday declared by the federal government.
For the second year running after the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of Palestinian supporters attended this year’s edition at different locations close to them, including Agege, Mushin, Surulere, Epe, Oshodi, Eti-Osa, Ikorodu, Eko, Badagry, Alimosho, in Lagos, and Ota, in Ogun State with a unified theme: “Al-Aqsa: Keeping the Faith”.
Atoyebi, who was at Moninuola Central Mosque, the venue of Aqsa Day in Ota, in his speech, noted that an opportunity to create effective awareness down to the grassroots, especially after COVID-19, informed the decentralisation.
His speech, which was adopted across the venues of the Aqsa Day and read by representatives of the MAI director, revealed that the Palestinian people have suffered over seven decades of unimaginable hardship, oppression and systematic denial of basic human rights at the hands of Israel.
According to him, “Their homes were demolished, land illegally occupied and dreams shattered. Families have been torn apart, children have grown in fear and the cycle of generations has been living in violence and despair. It is not a struggle between two equals, but one between a highly militarised power occupier and oppressor on one hand, and powerless and poor Palestinians on the other hand.”
The MAI Director also said it is a moral duty to speak up against injustice and work towards just and lasting solutions to the crisis.
He added that the world should support the Palestinian cause because it is an issue of justice, noting that injustice to one is injustice to all.
“We must address the issue of continued blockage on Gaza which has turned it into an open-air prison, where there is no access to clean water, electricity, medical supplies and humanitarian services. We should understand that advocating for justice in Palestine is not anti-Israel or anti-Christian, rather, it is about standing for the rights of marginalised and oppressed people. Injustice to one is injustice to all. This can happen to anyone and any country as well.
“We urge all good people of the world, including international organisations, civil societies and diplomats to mount diplomatic pressure, economic sanctions, peaceful protest, products’ boycott and any legal means to ensure peace and justice in Palestine and finally return their stolen land and rights.”
The prominent civic group also condemned the Arab normalisation agenda with Israel, saying it poses a big risk if the issue between Israel and Palestine is not addressed.
“The Arab world needs to learn and retrace their steps before it’s too late. He who wants to eat with the devil must have a long spoon. It is Palestine today, it could be Egypt or Jordan or any other one tomorrow. Israel has seen Palestine as a window to break the bond of unity that existed among the Arab countries in the past after the Arab-Israeli war.”
Comments on UNGA 78
The group also berated Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Nethanyahu for his covert plan to obliterate Palestine from the world map at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
It also frowned against the exclusion of the Palestinian cause in the speech of Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to it, Nigeria has always stood for justice and peace in Palestine. We are highly disappointed by the exclusion of the Palestine issue in the beautiful speech of President Tinubu at the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA.
MAI said immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari had always made a case for the oppressed Palestinians at UNGA.
“Was it a mistake or deliberate omission? Or the fear of the stigma of the Muslim-Muslim ticket? The speech was like a good soup without salt or seasoning. We hope that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu will correct this in subsequent international engagements. The plight of Palestinians is beyond religion; it’s a flagrant right abuse which every peace-loving person of the world must condemn and call Israel to respect the rights of the Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank and more importantly, the sanctity of Aqsa, the Muslims’ third holiest mosque,” said MAI.
The advocacy group is optimistic that Palestine will be free one day.
It meanwhile empathised with Turkey, Syria and Morocco on the devastation caused by the earthquakes in some parts of their lands.
“A few weeks ago, the people of Libya also experienced flooding that destroyed properties worth billions of dollars in Derna which caused the death of over 2000 people and rendered thousands of others homeless. We can only pray that Allah gives them succour and replenish the loss in manifold,” it said.
Arab normalisation with Israel worrisome: Human Rights lawyer
Speaking on the theme: “Al-Aqsa: Keeping Faith”, at Mushin district, Lagos Barr. Rasheed Atta from the International Institute of Human Heritage (IIHH) described the growing Israel normalisation with the Arab countries as worrisome and discouraging.
Muslim News findings revealed that Arab countries that have full diplomatic relations with Israel include Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Atta, a lawyer and human rights activist, said, “The way the Arabs are normalising their ways with Israel is very discouraging. Allah warns the Muslim, believers against allying with Israel. The betrayal of the Palestinians in the hands of their Arab brothers is worrisome.
“Rather than normalisation with Israel, the Muslims should unite and liberate Palestine and Masjid Al-Aqsa, in fulfillment of the prophecy of the Messenger of Allah.”
Barrister Atta quoted a Hadith where the Prophet (SAW) said the world would not come to an end until Muslims and Jews had an encounter, and the Jews would be devastated that they would be seeking asylum behind the trees and stones.
According to him, “It is worthy of note that the Prophet (SAW) didn’t mention mountains, but stones, to tell us how ridiculously devastated, and helpless the Jews would have been, for them to seek asylum behind just stones, not mountains.
“It’s a prophecy that they will be defeated. Even the trees and stones will not accommodate them, but instead expose them to the Muslims except Gharqad trees, which are now being planted by Israelites in the occupied territories.”
In another Hadith as quoted by Atta, the world will not come to an end until a portion of the Muslims are relentlessly fighting and struggling against the enemies; adding that, “The Prophet (SAW) was asked, “Where are these people? He said, in Palestine and the suburbs of Palestine. So, some of us who are far from that land believe we are closer because Palestine lives in our hearts.
He said Africa as a continent has a role to play in the liberation of Palestine and world affairs.
“Prophet Ibrahim (AS) married from Africa. Even our beloved Prophet (SAW) also married from Africa. There was a sahabi, Bilal bn Rabbah, whose role cannot be compromised! He was also from Abyssinia, current Ethiopia, in Africa. Look at the France national football team that won the FIFA World Cup in 2018, it was dominated by Africans.
“That shows that the role of Africans in global affairs cannot be neglected. You can’t talk about Africa without talking about Nigeria, because in terms of population and economy, etc., we are the topmost in Africa. That’s why we as Nigerians, especially Muslims have roles to play in the liberation of Palestine.”
Despite Being Under Siege, Gaza Is Example For World: Egyptian Activist
Also speaking at the Surulere, Lagos district where scores of Palestinian supporters converged at the TMC Da’wah Centre, an Egyptian activist, Muhammad Al-Hassan, commended the organisers, calling for synergy among Nigerians in creating awareness about the plight of Palestinians.
He said, “The Palestinian struggle is an important issue to all the Muslims and non-Muslims across the world. It is so important that the UN recently dedicated a day in solidarity with Palestinians. Hence, we expect all Muslims to show affection and love for their brothers. They should be concerned about their plights as well.
“I commend the organisers of this gathering. It’s a good and well-informed gathering. We want such to be consistent and more effort put into creating awareness about Palestine across Nigeria.”
The Egyptian activist held up the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip as an example of a sound democracy for the Muslim world to emulate.
“Gaza Strip is a very small country on the map but the people have exhibited a good trait for the Muslim world to emulate. The Israelites with the superpowers gathered together to wipe them from the map but weren’t able to do so due to the sound Islamic orientation of the people of Gaza.
“Gaza practices a good democracy. The democracy in Gaza is very difficult to be seen in other parts of the world. It’s unique and done through the Islamic Shurah, which has remained strong over the years.”
He said if Muslims have strong determination, they will overcome their enemies and become victorious.
“Despite efforts by Israel and the West to wipe them off the map, they remain strong. They are people of strong determination. They are not yet free from the Jews but they have hope, that with our support, Gaza and by extension, Palestine, will be free very soon.”
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