Shiites and PFN express contrasting views as the Hamas-Israel conflict enters its third day
UN Reports Over 123,000 Gaza Residents Displaced by Airstrikes
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) responded to the attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas militants from Gaza. In a statement issued yesterday, the association vehemently denounced the assault, which commenced in the early hours of Saturday morning.
PFN President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, expressed his shock over the incident, characterizing it as a terrorist attack against innocent and defenseless civilians.
"We are deeply saddened and outraged by these events. PFN strongly condemns these heinous and brutal killings. We denounce this unprecedented act of evil against humanity," he declared.
Innocent civilians, including Israeli citizens and individuals from across the globe, have been besieged in their homes, workplaces, vehicles, and even during celebrations. This represents an unspeakable form of terror, surpassing the boundaries of humanity," stated PFN.
The federation expressed its unwavering solidarity with the people of Israel, who have been subjected to this horrifying terror, saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this dark time."
Conversely, members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), commonly known as Shiites, staged a protest in support of Palestinians in Abuja, in response to Israel's retaliatory actions against Hamas fighters and the Gaza Strip.
Protesters, wielding the Palestinian flag, were observed in prominent locations like Banex Plaza and Ahmadu Bello Way. They voiced anti-Israeli slogans and set fire to the flag of Israel.
Sheikh Sidi Munir Sokoto, representing IMN, released a statement explaining, "We are staging this demonstration in solidarity with Palestine due to the success achieved in the Al-Aqsa Flood operation against the state of Israel. Palestine initiated the Al-Aqsa Flood as a response to recent attacks by Israeli occupation forces on Al-Aqsa mosque and the Gaza refugee camp."
He continued, "The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, situated in the heart of Jerusalem's old city, holds the distinction of being the third holiest site in Islam. Support for the struggle for Palestinian freedom transcends religious boundaries and is a cause for all individuals with a sense of conscience."
In the meantime, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released a report yesterday indicating that over 123,000 Palestinians residing in the Gaza Strip have been displaced internally as a result of Israel's retaliatory airstrikes.
OCHA stated that people fled their homes either out of concern for their safety or due to the destruction of their residences.
Additionally, OCHA reported that Gaza's Ministry of Public Works and Housing reported 159 housing units destroyed and 1,210 others severely damaged. The airstrikes also resulted in significant damage to water and sanitation infrastructure, affecting over 400,000 individuals, as well as causing harm to several healthcare facilities.
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