๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐: His Excellency Mr. Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, on Monday 25th August delivered a powerful statement at the Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Speaking on behalf of His Excellency President Adama Barrow, the Government and people of The Gambia, Minister Njie underscored the urgent need for decisive international action in response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the wider Occupied Palestinian Territories.
โThe continuation of Israeli military action, forceful displacement of the Palestinian people, and destruction of their homes and livelihoods will not bring peace or security to the region,โ Minister Njie declared. He highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict, particularly on children, with reports revealing that over 300,000 children in Gaza face famine and death due to the ongoing blockade.
Minister Njie strongly expresses regret and concern about Israelโs targeting of humanitarian aid convoys, workers, and critical infrastructure, describing such actions as violations of international law, including the Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
He emphasized the urgent need for:
โชUnhindered humanitarian access to Gaza and other affected territories
โชA coordinated international response to protect civilians and alleviate human suffering;
โชA durable political solution based on international law and UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2334;
โชFull recognition of the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds Al-Shareef) as its capital.
Reaffirming The Gambiaโs unwavering solidarity with Palestine, Minister Njie called on the international community to exercise โreason, compassion, and moral obligationโ by engaging Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian lands and uphold the peace process. He reiterated The Gambiaโs strong support for the Two-State Solution, which he described as the only viable path toward lasting peace, mutual respect, and stability.
Minister Njie also praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France for co-chairing the recent UN High-Level Conference on Palestine, which reinforced the international communityโs commitment to advancing a two-state solution.
Concluding his remarks, the Minister stressed:
โThe people of Palestine, particularly those in Gaza, have suffered enough. We must act now and consolidate our resolve to address their plight, defend the sanctity of Al-Quds Al-Shareef, and restore international peace and security. These are challenging times, but with true OIC solidarity, there is no issue that we cannot solve.โ
The Gambia reaffirmed its full support for the resolution under consideration at the Extraordinary Session and called for a united front in mobilizing global supportย forย Palestine.