Feeling for humanity as Israel-Hamas war continues

Brethren, in our sermon today, our hearts go to the men, women and children who, daily, face existential threat as Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza rages.

And we pray: “O Allah! Raise the banner of Jihad, suppress the people of Shirk, deviation and corruption, and spread Your grace to all people. You are the Owners of this world and the Hereafter and for You is our final return. O Allah! Help our brothers, the Mujahideen everywhere to gain victory over Your enemy and theirs. O Allah! They are barefooted, naked and hungry. So, dress and feed them; they are poor and need Your compassion. So, cast Your mercy on them. O You the Most Compassionate to the poor and Victory Donor to the week.”

Fierce fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters is reported in northern Gaza and Gaza City as bombardment of besieged enclave intensifies. Gaza officials say 195 killed, 120 missing in Israel’s bombing of Jabalia refugee camp, which the UN says may be “disproportionate attacks that could amount to war crimes”.

Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, Gaza’s only medical facility serving cancer patients, forced to shut down after running out of fuel. The Indonesian Hospital running on backup generator.

At least 9,061 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. More than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel. So far, the calls for ceasefire have largely been ignored. As at yesterday, the 27th day of the hostility, it was gathered that foreign passport holders in Gaza are exiting into Egypt through the Rafah Crossing. About 500 people were allowed to leave via the crossing on Wednesday, while 596 more were expected to exit yesterday, according to the Gaza Borders and Crossings Authority. Some injured Palestinians have also been allowed to leave for medical treatment.

The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. Israel Defence Force (IDF) carried out deadly air raids on the Jabalia refugee camp since Tuesday, bringing the death toll there to about 200 and injuring nearly 800 people in just 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.

More than 100 people remain missing. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies show how intense bombardment left a crater in the neighbourhood. Israel’s military claims the second attack killed a senior Hamas leader. Another phone and internet blackout swept Gaza on Wednesday, according to Palestinian telecom provider Paltel.

Devastation becomes understatement to depict the human impact and fighting as Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) said more than 20,000 injured people are still in Gaza.

There were predawn Israeli air raids across the Gaza Strip, including in the vicinity of al-Quds hospital, said the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Missiles and shells fired by Israeli warplanes and tanks also killed several people in neighbourhoods like Tal al-Hawa, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA. Ambulances have been struggling to reach the affected areas due to continued bombardment.

Last Wednesday night, the Israeli army claimed it killed Muhammad A’sar, identified by them as the head of Hamas’s “antitank missile units”.
Reports monitored on Al Jazeera Arabic channel chronicled “Violent clashes” between Palestinian fighters and Israeli forces in northwest Gaza City yesterday morning. Palestinian armed groups have killed an Israeli soldier in a firefight, according to the Israeli army. Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, also told Al Jazeera Arabic that they fired antitank shells, targeting at least two Israeli tanks and bulldozers.

Fighting is also continuing at the Lebanon-Israel border as Hezbollah claimed it shot down an Israeli drone for the second time this week. Israel’s army confirmed its drone was shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

In fact, the annihilation is turning Gaza into ‘world’s largest open-air death camp’ as noted by the former UNRWA official, Chris Gunness.
Meanwhile, for the first time since October 7, United States President Joe Biden called for a “humanitarian pause” in the Gaza Strip, according to The Associated Press news agency. Jordan recalled its ambassador to Israel as a protest against the war on Gaza, according to a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In Iran, Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei called on Muslim states to cease oil and food exports to Israel in response to their bombardment of Gaza.

Last Wednesday, Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, said Israel and Palestine should adopt a two-state solution, according to Reuters news agency. On Sunday, he had also called for a ceasefire in the war.

Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday to discuss ways to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East.

In Nigeria, solidarity rally had been held not only to create global awareness on the conflict in Gaza, but also to mobilise sympathy and support for ceasefire.

Tagged ‘50,000 Man Match’ and spearheaded by the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) and other civil society organization including Amnesty International of Nigeria, the organisrers were assertive in their demands. They insisted that “the United Nations should lead efforts at creating humanitarian corridors and ensuring that aid and relief packages get to Gaza and other places. Any interim peace process, must, as a matter of necessity, incorporate the lifting of the siege on Gaza.”

Member of the Board of Trustee, Amnesty International of Nigeria and Executive Director Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, said Amnesty International condemned the continuous regression and attack on the Palestinians, most especially, children, women, disabled, as well as aged people, who have been brutally murdered as a result of the conflict.

“Amnesty International continues to demand justice, and accountability and ensure peaceful resolution of the problem today in Gaza. This conflict has been going on for years, but because of a lack of political will at the global level, this has not been stopped, and therefore, with this past murder of children, women we have no option but to continue to voice out this oppression and violence against children and women orchestrated by extremist forces in Gaza and Palestine.”

He noted that Amnesty International and other civil society organisations in Nigeria are solemnly behind the voiceless oppressed and innocent people that have been killed.

The Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organizations (CIO), Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi, said obviously from the look of things, the Israel blown war is not only on Palestine, but the Muslim Ummah in totality.

He commended all past presidents of Nigeria except President Jonathan for standing in solidarity with Palestine right from when Nigeria gained independence.

He called President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to speak on behalf of the oppressed. “Our hope is from Allah and that Palestine will surely succeed. People all over the world have come out to condemn the barbaric attack. Despite what is going on in Sudan, they also came out to condemn Israeli action.”

He commended the Nigerian government for standing behind Palestine. “We thank President Tinubu for standing for Palestine and we urge him to continue to support them, we want him to speak out and condemn the act.”

Chairman, Council of Muslim Scholars in Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul Fatai Thanni, said Nigeria Muslims came together to show concern and sympathy to the people of Palestine and Gaza and also to condemn what is happening there.