* Fault call on Hamas to disarm
* “You can’t disarm resistance group while the root cause remains unaddressed”
Muslim Awareness International (MAI) has strongly condemned what it described as the passive and complicit attitude of many Arab governments toward the ongoing genocide and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
The group also expressed deep concern over recent calls by some Arab states urging Hamas to disarm, relinquish control of Gaza, and accept a ceasefire under conditions that ignore the broader context of occupation, oppression, and humanitarian devastation.
Speaking at the World Press Conference held on Saturday in Anthony Village, Lagos, the Director of MAI, Abdul Waheed Atoyebi, described the situation in Gaza as “a genocide and deliberate starvation campaign” against the Palestinian people.
The briefing with the theme “End Gaza Genocide Now”, was also attended by the representatives of various Muslim groups and human rights organisations in Nigeria, including Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Al-Mu’minaat (The Believing Women) Organisation, International Institute of Human Heritage (IIHH), Quds Foundation, Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).
Atoyebi said it’s disheartening that some Arab leaders, instead of standing firmly against genocide, have chosen to pressure the victims of occupation to lay down their arms, adding, “True solidarity means using diplomatic leverage to demand an end to the occupation and collective punishment, not urging those resisting it to surrender.”
According to him, while the Arab League and several governments often issue condemnations of Israeli aggression, their actions have been inconsistent, fragmented, and in many cases counterproductive.
He noted that the recent wave of normalization agreements between Israel and some Arab nations has further eroded the moral authority of the Arab world and undermined the Palestinian struggle for justice.
Atoyebi lamented that the people of Palestine, particularly in Gaza, have long looked to the Arab world for support, protection, and leadership, but have been met instead with divided diplomacy, political expediency, and silence in the face of atrocities.
“The Palestinian people have long looked to the Arab world for protection, support, and principled leadership. What they have often received instead is fragmented diplomacy, silence in the face of atrocities, and political deals that exclude them,” Atoyebi stated.
You can’t disarm hamas while the root causes unaddressed: Barr. Atta
Also speaking on the call by the Arab leaders for Hamas to disarm and relinquish power in Gaza, the Director of IIHH, Barr Rasheed Atta emphasised that any real and lasting peace must uphold Palestinian resistance group and must not be based on externally imposed conditions.
Atta stressed that disarming Hamas while leaving the root causes of the conflict unaddressed would only serve to perpetuate Israeli domination and deepen the suffering of Palestinians.
“Demanding unilateral disarmament without addressing the structural violence of occupation is unjust. It reduces a national liberation movement to a security problem and ignores the broader aspirations of an oppressed people,” he said.
Director of IIHH urged Arab governments to reaffirm their support for the Palestinian right to self-determination, reject conditional recognition of statehood tied to Israeli approval, and act decisively to provide humanitarian and diplomatic support to the people of Gaza.
The organization called for an end to political calculations that prioritize foreign alliances over Arab unity and the pursuit of justice.
“Now is the time for Arab unity, not neutrality. The Palestinian people do not need sympathy—they need solidarity, protection, and decisive action,” Atta declared.
This is a call to humanity – Al-Mu’minaat
The Amirah of Al-Mu’minaat in Lagos, Hajia Balqees Abdullah, urged Muslims and Christians worldwide to amplify advocacy, mobilize humanitarian aid, and pressure their governments to act. The organization stressed that the situation in Gaza transcends politics and is a moral crisis that threatens the fabric of global humanity.
“Religious leaders and faithful are called upon to raise awareness, mobilize aid, and advocate for peace rooted in justice. Inter-faith cooperation can amplify this moral imperative,” Hajia Abdullah said.
Hajia Abdullah, who represented the National Amirah of the Muslim female organization, called on African nations, especially Nigeria, to leverage their positions in international bodies to demand an end to the siege and ensure humanitarian corridors are opened.
“Our governments must move beyond rhetoric. They must act with urgency to provide aid and apply diplomatic pressure on Israel to end the violence and occupation,” Hajia Abdullah emphasised.
US is acting unjustly and remains complicit in the ongoing killings: Quds Foundation Director
Also speaking, the Director of Quds Foundation, Mallam Qasim Akinloye condemned the role of the United States in the crisis. Mal Akinloye accused both the Biden and Trump administrations of enabling Israel’s military operations through weapons supply, diplomatic vetoes at the UN, and obstruction of ceasefires.
“The U.S.’ role as an unjust ruler is a major obstacle to peace, perpetuating a cycle of violence and deepening the humanitarian crisis,” he charged.
The group also highlighted that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access food, and that disease is spreading rapidly due to unsanitary, overcrowded living conditions and lack of clean water.
The world press conference ended with a call for Muslims, Christians, and all people of conscience to raise their voices against injustice and amplify the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian access, and the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state without conditions.
Sponsored
