Amnesty International Urges Nigeria to Demand End to Civilian Killings in Gaza

Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to actively participate in global efforts to condemn the ongoing bombardment of civilians in Gaza by Israeli forces.

The appeal was made during the launch of Amnesty’s latest report, titled “You Feel Like You Are Subhuman: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza,” held in Kano on Monday.

At the event, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chairperson of Amnesty International Nigeria’s Board of Trustees, urged the Nigerian government to take a strong stand against the atrocities in Gaza. He emphasized Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa, stating that the country has a moral obligation to advocate for an end to the violence.

“Nigeria has no excuse not to show solidarity against these atrocities committed against women and children,” Rafsanjani said. “We also call on other African nations to join this call because what happens to someone else today might happen to you tomorrow.”

The report, first launched in London, documents the alleged atrocities committed by Israeli forces in Gaza following Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. It highlights actions prohibited under the Genocide Convention, including mass killings, inflicting serious harm, and creating conditions aimed at destroying the Palestinian population in Gaza.

Amnesty’s findings reveal that over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 97,000 injured since the conflict began. The report also underscores the destruction of critical infrastructure, the displacement of millions, and the targeting of children, with over 13,000 minors among the dead.

Rafsanjani condemned the international community’s failure to take decisive action, describing the continued supply of arms to Israel by countries such as the United States and Germany as a violation of their obligation to prevent genocide.

“Governments must stop pretending they are powerless to end this genocide,” he said. “States need to move beyond expressions of regret or dismay and take strong and sustained international action to halt these atrocities.”

The event in Kano marked the official Nigerian presentation of the report, aimed at amplifying global calls for immediate action to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.