The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • Group hails Nigeria-India defence partnership as catalyst for national security solutions

    Group hails Nigeria-India defence partnership as catalyst for national security solutions

    The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) has commended the strengthening of defence ties between Nigeria and India, describing it as a strategic step towards solving the country’s security challenges. 

    The group said the renewed bilateral engagement, which covers counter-terrorism training, maritime cooperation, research and development, as well as defence industry investment, is a sign of a forward-thinking administration committed to lasting security reforms.

    In a statement signed by its President, Prince Maduka Ezeagu, NDMG said the four-day working visit of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to India from August 11 to 14, 2025, marks a new era in Nigeria’s international defence cooperation. 

    The group lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for pursuing a robust, pragmatic foreign defence policy that places capacity-building, technological transfer, and local production at the centre of national security.

    According to the group, the meeting between Dr. Matawalle and India’s Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri Sanjay Seth, has opened critical avenues for Nigeria to tap into India’s proven military capabilities, from the production of Light Combat Aircraft and Light Combat Helicopters to Offshore Patrol Vessels.

    “This partnership is not mere diplomacy for optics; it is a practical step towards closing the gap in our national security architecture,” Ezeagu said. 

    “With insecurity threatening both urban and rural stability, Nigeria needs international allies who are willing to share technology, offer advanced training, and invest in our defence industry. The India–Nigeria discussions tick all those boxes and reflect the Tinubu administration’s seriousness in delivering sustainable security solutions.”

    He noted that India’s defence industry has a track record of delivering affordable, high-quality equipment suited for diverse terrains, making it an ideal partner for Nigeria’s operational environment. 

    Ezeagu pointed out that with the Federal Government’s focus on revamping local defence manufacturing, this partnership could fast-track Nigeria’s self-reliance in defence technology within the next decade.

    The NDMG further applauded Dr. Matawalle’s invitation to Indian defence companies to invest in Nigeria, saying that such initiatives would not only improve the nation’s defence capacity but also create jobs, enhance technical skills, and boost industrial growth.

    “What makes this development even more important is that it is happening at a time when Nigeria is repositioning its military strategy to respond to asymmetric threats such as terrorism, banditry, and piracy. By collaborating with a nation like India, which has decades of experience in counter-insurgency, maritime security, and peacekeeping operations, Nigeria stands to gain immensely,” he said.

    The group also highlighted the inclusion of joint research and development in the talks, noting that such collaborations will ensure Nigeria is not just a consumer of foreign military technology but also an innovator. 

    This, they said, aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises modernising the Armed Forces and strengthening institutions tasked with securing the country.

    Ezeagu stressed that Nigerians in the diaspora are paying close attention to how the government aligns foreign partnerships with domestic reforms, praising President Tinubu for giving the Defence Ministry both the political backing and operational flexibility to explore high-value global engagements.

    “From the perspective of Nigerians abroad, this is exactly the kind of results-driven diplomacy we expect—where state visits translate into tangible benefits for citizens and concrete progress in tackling security challenges,” he said. 

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    “We urge the government to ensure that the follow-up to these agreements is swift, transparent, and measurable in terms of impact on the ground.”

    The NDMG urged the Ministry of Defence to establish a joint monitoring framework with its Indian counterpart to ensure timelines and deliverables are met. 

    They also called for deliberate efforts to involve Nigerian universities, research centres, and local manufacturers in the R&D component of the partnership, ensuring that knowledge transfer is embedded in every stage.

    Concluding, Ezeagu reaffirmed the group’s support for the Tinubu administration’s defence policies, expressing confidence that with disciplined execution, the Nigeria–India defence partnership will contribute significantly to restoring peace, deterring threats, and laying the foundation for a secure, economically vibrant nation.

  • Russia appears ready to test new missile

    Russia appears ready to test new missile

    Russia appears to be preparing to test its new nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered cruise missile, according to two U.S. researchers and a Western security source.

    This is coming as Russian President Vladimir Putin readies for talks on Ukraine with U.S. President Donald Trump tomorrow.

    Jeffrey Lewis of the California-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and Decker Eveleth of the CNA research and analysis organisation, based in Virginia, reached their assessments separately by studying imagery taken in recent weeks until Tuesday by Planet Labs, a commercial satellite firm.

    They agreed the photos showed extensive activity at the Pankovo test site on the Barents Sea archipelago of Novaya Zemlya, including increases in personnel and equipment and ships and aircraft associated with earlier tests of the 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm Petrel).

    “We can see all of the activity at the test site, which is both huge amounts of supplies coming in to support operations and movement at the place where they actually launch the missile,” Lewis said.

    A Western security source, who asked not to be further identified, confirmed that Russia is preparing a Burevestnik test.

    Lewis said a test could occur this week, raising the possibility it could overshadow the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.

    Asked for comment, the White House did not address the possibility of a Burevestnik test.

    The Pentagon, the CIA, and Russia’s Defence Ministry declined to comment.

    Putin has said the weapon – dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO – is “invincible” to current and future missile defenses, with an almost unlimited range and unpredictable flight path.

    Lewis, Eveleth, and two arms control experts said the missile’s development has taken on more importance for Moscow since Trump announced in January the development of a U.S. Golden Dome missile defense shield.

    But many experts say it is unclear the missile can evade defenses, will not give Moscow capabilities it does not already have, and will spew radiation along its flight path.

    A test would have been scheduled long in advance of last week’s announcement of the Trump-Putin meeting, the researchers and experts said.

    But Putin could have suspended preparations in view of U.S. spy satellites to signal his openness to ending his war in Ukraine as well as to restarting arms-control talks with the U.S., the experts said. New START, the last U.S.-Russia pact capping strategic nuclear deployments, expires on February 5.

    “Sometimes you can push up or push down the schedule for a political reason,” said Tom Countryman, a former acting undersecretary of state for arms control.

    The Burevestnik has a poor test record, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative advocacy group, with two partial successes among 13 known tests.

    Eveleth and Lewis said the Planet Labs imagery showed stacks of shipping containers, equipment, and personnel arriving since late July.

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    Lewis said two aircraft equipped to gather test data had been parked at the archipelago’s Rogachevo military airfield since mid-July. Images he provided to Reuters showed two large jets mounted with saucer-shaped radar domes.

    He noted the presence of at least five ships associated with previous tests. A ship-tracking website – VesselFinder.com – showed a sixth ship linked to earlier tests was due to arrive on Tuesday, he said.

    Reuters confirmed the website showed the vessel, a cargo ship named the Teriberka, bound for Novaya Zemlya, but could not independently confirm the researchers’ other findings.

    Eveleth and Lewis said they began examining imagery of Pankovo starting from July, after Russia on August 6 published a notice to mariners to stay away from the area from August 9-12.

    Reuters found a series of notices on the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s Defense Internet NOTAM Service issued by Russia showing a possible launch window between August 9-22.

    The Norwegian military told Reuters in an email that the Barents Sea is a “prime location for Russian missile tests” and that it had indications from notices and maritime warnings of “preparations for test activities.”

    But it said it would “not confirm any knowledge of what kind of munitions they are to test.”

    In late July, Eveleth said, he noticed a shelter protecting the Burevestnik launcher from the weather was being slid back and forth, which he called “very clear evidence” of plans for a test.

    Lewis provided to Reuters images taken of the site on August 7 showing the protective launcher cover, stacks of shipping containers, a crane for moving them, and a helicopter.

    “It’s full steam ahead,” he said of the pace of test preparations.

  • EU leaders hopeful ahead Trump, Putin summit

    EU leaders hopeful ahead Trump, Putin summit

    European Union leaders appeared cautiously optimistic after holding a virtual meeting with Donald Trump yesterday, two days before he meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

    Trump reportedly told the Europeans that his goal for the summit was to obtain a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv.

    He also agreed that any territorial issues had to be decided with Volodymyr Zelensky’s involvement, and that security guarantees had to be part of the deal, according to France’s Emmanuel Macron.

    Speaking to Trump had allowed him to “clarify his intentions” and gave the Europeans a chance to “express our expectations,” Macron said.

    Trump and Vice-President JD Vance spoke to the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and Poland as well as EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Nato chief Mark Rutte.

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    The Europeans have been sidelined from the hastily organised summit in Alaska and their phone call today was a last-ditch attempt to keep Ukraine’s interests and the continent’s security at the forefront of Trump’s mind.

    To an extent, it seemed to work.  yesterday evening Trump rated the meeting “a ten” and said Russia would face “very severe” consequences unless it halted its war in Ukraine.

    He also said that if Friday’s meeting went well, he would try and organise a “quick second one” involving both Putin and Zelensky.

    Still, in their statements European leaders restated the need for Kyiv to be involved in any final decision – betraying an underlying nervousness that Putin could ultimately persuade Trump to concede Ukrainian land in exchange for a ceasefire.

    “It’s most important thing that Europe convinces Donald Trump that one can’t trust Russia,” said Poland’s Donald Tusk, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed the leaders had “made it clear that Ukraine must be at the table as soon as follow-up meetings take place.”

    If the Russian side refused to make any concessions, “then the United States and we Europeans should and must increase the pressure,” Merz said.

    Since the US-Russia summit was announced last week, Trump has made several references to “land-swapping” between Kyiv and Moscow – sparking serious concerns in Ukraine and beyond that he could be preparing to give in to Putin’s longstanding demand to seize large swathes of Ukrainian territory.

  • MiG Arogan becomes first Haitian to visit 103 countries

    MiG Arogan becomes first Haitian to visit 103 countries

    MiG Arogan isn’t just making waves in music—he’s making history on a global scale. Beyond his rapidly growing presence in hip-hop, MiG has achieved a milestone few can claim: he is the first Haitian known to have traveled to 103 countries.

    While his music—like the viral “MOON UNDER ME”—reflects his deep connection to Haitian Vodou roots, his second passion is traveling the world. Each journey fuels his creativity, inspires his storytelling, and deepens his understanding of cultures far beyond his own.

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    Out of the 103 countries he’s explored, some standouts include: Bahamas, France, United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Italy, United Kingdom, Malta, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, Saint John’s, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Cyprus, Oman, Mexico, Aruba, Curaçao, Jamaica, Japan, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, South Africa, and China.

    For MiG, travel isn’t just leisure—it’s a way of life. From performing in bustling metropolises to walking through ancient markets and relaxing on remote islands, each destination has left its mark on his perspective. His passport tells a story of discovery, resilience, and ambition that mirrors his music career.

    With 103 countries behind him and countless more on the horizon, MiG Arogan proves that his stage isn’t just a studio or a concert venue—the entire world is part of his journey. Music may be his craft, but exploring the globe is his true passion.

  • Russia hopes for improving ties with U.S. after Putin-Trump Alaska summit

    Russia hopes for improving ties with U.S. after Putin-Trump Alaska summit

    Russia hopes that the upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump could help normalise bilateral relations.

    According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, the Alaska summit could also help advance the resolution of specific issues, including the resumption of direct passenger flights between the two countries.

    “We hope that the forthcoming high-level meeting will give an impulse to the normalisation of bilateral relations, which will allow us to move forward on such issues as restoring air links,” Ryabkov said.

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    Earlier on Monday, Trump said that his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday would be a “feel-out meeting.”

    Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov called the choice of venue “logical,” noting that the region is where the economic interests of both countries intersect.

    (Xinhua/NAN)

  • Madonna calls on Pope Leo to visit Gaza

    Madonna calls on Pope Leo to visit Gaza

    Pop icon Madonna has made an appeal to Pope Leo XIV, urging him to visit the blockaded Gaza Strip amid a starvation crisis that has sparked international outrage.

    “You are the only one of us that cannot be denied entry,” the U.S. singer wrote on social media platform X late on Monday.

    “We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children.

    “There is no more time,” she added.

    Marking the 25th birthday of her son Rocco Ritchie on Monday, Madonna also announced plans to donate to humanitarian organisations working in Gaza.

    “I feel the best gift I can give to him as a Mother is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza,” she wrote.

    A United Nations (UN) agency said late last week that “acute malnutrition among children in Gaza has reached the highest levels.”

    In July alone, nearly 12,000 children lower than five in age were identified as acutely malnourished, with another 2,500 found to suffer from severe acute malnutrition.

    According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), this is the most life-threatening form.

    Israel controls access roads to Gaza and has sealed off the coastal area.

    Read Also: Pope Leo renews call for ceasefire after Israeli attack on Gaza church

    Very little aid got into Gaza from March through May, when Israel began allowing in deliveries using a controversial private system that bypasses traditional UN agencies.

    Under pressure from allies, Israel recently began permitting larger convoys into the territory, as aid airdrops take place overhead.

    On Sunday, Irish rock band U2 issued a stinging critique of the Israeli government’s actions.

    “We know Hamas are using starvation as a weapon in the war, but now so too is Israel and I feel revulsion for the moral failure,” frontman Bono wrote.

    (dpa/NAN)

  • Global outrage mounts over five journalists killed in Gaza

    Global outrage mounts over five journalists killed in Gaza

    • ’238 reporters murdered by Israeli forces so far ’

    The death of the prominent Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, killed along with four colleagues in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday, has prompted condemnation from around the world, as hundreds of mourners carried their bodies through the streets of Gaza City.

    Sharif, one of Al Jazeera’s most recognisable faces in Gaza, was killed while inside a tent for journalists outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Sunday night.

    Seven people were killed in the attack, including the Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and the camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa, according to the Qatar-based broadcaster.

    According to Gaza’s government media office, 238 journalists have been killed by Israel since the war started. But, CPJ said at least 186 journalists had been killed in the Gaza conflict. Israel denies deliberately targeting journalists.

    In a report released this year, the Watson School of International and Public Affairs’ costs of war project said more journalists had been killed in Gaza than in both world wars, the Vietnam war, the wars in Yugoslavia and the US war in Afghanistan combined.

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    Yesterday, the Guardian visited the site where the journalists were killed. Wadi Abu al-Saud, a Palestinian journalist who was near the tent when the Israeli strike occurred on Sunday, said the attack happened at 11.22pm, just after he had finished filming his latest news bulletin.

    “I entered the tent opposite theirs, raised my phone to make a call, and then the explosion occurred, Saud said. “A piece of shrapnel hit my phone. I looked back and saw people burning in flames. I tried to extinguish them. Anas and the others had died instantly from the strike.”

    In two videos of the aftermath of the strike, Saud can be seen carrying the bodies of those killed. “From now on, I will not continue the coverage,” he said. “I will return to my life as a citizen. The truth has died and the coverage has ended.”

    The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) admitted carrying out the attack, claiming Sharif was the leader of a Hamas cell responsible for rocket attacks against Israel – an allegation that Al Jazeera and Sharif had previously dismissed as baseless.

    It was the first time during the war that Israel’s military has swiftly claimed responsibility after a journalist was killed in a strike.

    Pro-Israel advocates on social media hailed the killing of Sharif and posted photos handed out by the IDF of photos the journalist took with the former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, taken before Hamas’s attack on 7 October.

    Sara Qudah, the Middle East and north Africa director at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said: “Israel’s pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom.”

    In July, Sharif told CPJ that he lived with the “feeling that I could be bombed and martyred at any moment”.

    Reporters Without Borders condemned the “acknowledged murder by the Israeli army” of Sharif in Gaza and called on the international community to intervene.

    Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said: “We are gravely concerned by the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza. Reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law and journalists must be able to report independently without fear, and Israel must ensure journalists can carry out their work safely.”

    The UN human rights office condemned the targeting of the journalists’ tent, saying it was “in grave breach of international humanitarian law”.

    Al Jazeera said the attack was “a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza” and called Sharif “one of Gaza’s bravest journalists”.

    People gathered at Sheikh Radwan cemetery in the heart of the Gaza Strip to mourn the journalists, whose bodies lay wrapped in white sheets at al-Shifa hospital before their burial. Friends, colleagues and relatives embraced and consoled one another.

    The area where the attack took place was crowded with media workers yesterday, some speaking to cameras or mobile phones, others taking photos.

    Islam al-Za’anoun, a news correspondent for Palestine TV and several Arab channels who participated in the funeral, said Sunday’s attack was “a turning point in the world of journalism”.

    She said: “Despite all the threats he received and the Israeli media’s incitement against him, al-Sharif continued reporting. Now one question haunts me: Who will be next on the list? Will it be me?”

    Bilal Abu Khalifa, a presenter at Al Jazeera, said he had met Sharif four days ago. “He told me he was in danger,” Abu Khalifa said. “I asked him not to go out or appear publicly too often. He gave me a very simple answer: Bilal, I will not leave Gaza except to the sky! I will not leave Gaza even if I am killed. I know I am on the assassination list, but I will continue to expose the crimes of the Israeli army against my people and show the world, and everyone who stands by them, the truth.”

    In a final message, which Al Jazeera said had been written on 6 April and which was posted to Sharif’s X account after his death, the reporter said he had “lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification.”

    He continued: “Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent, those who accepted our killing, those who choked our breath, and whose hearts were unmoved by the scattered remains of our children and women, doing nothing to stop the massacre that our people have faced for more than a year and a half.”

  • EU leaders to meet Trump before summit with Putin

    EU leaders to meet Trump before summit with Putin

    • U.S. President sets deadline for ceasefire

    European leaders plan talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump tomorrow, two days before Trump is set to meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss the Ukraine war, Berlin said.

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited the French, British and other European leaders and the EU and Nato chiefs to the virtual talks, his spokesman said, amid fears across Europe that any deal made without Ukraine could force unacceptable compromises.

    Merz’s office said the video conference in various rounds of talks would discuss “further options to exert pressure on Russia” and “preparation of possible peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claims and security”.

    French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said he and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer were also involved in planning Wednesday’s meeting of the “coalition of the willing”.

    Trump and Putin will meet in the US state of Alaska on Friday to try to resolve the three-year war but the European Union has insisted that Kyiv and European powers should be part of any deal to end the conflict.

    Trump said he expected the meeting with Putin to be “constructive” and expressed unhappiness with Zelenskyy for ruling out territorial concessions to Russia.

    “I’m going to speak to Vladimir Putin and I’m going to be telling him ‘you’ve got to end this war,’” Trump said at a White House press conference.

    As EU foreign ministers began an emergency meeting on Ukraine, Merz announced the initiative to keep Europe at the table.

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    Merz’s office said he would talk to leaders from “Finland, France, the UK, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, the heads of the European Commission and Council, the secretary general of Nato, as well as the US president and his deputy”.

    According to Germany’s Bild daily, a first conference call will include the European leaders, Zelenskyy, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.

    This would be followed by a joint call with Trump and Vice-President JD Vance, the newspaper said.

    The idea of a U.S.-Russia meeting without Zelenskyy has raised concerns that a deal could require Ukraine to cede swathes of territory, which the EU has rejected.

    Over the weekend, several European leaders pushed Trump to exert more pressure on Russia in a joint statement and warned that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine”.

    Before yesterday’s EU talks, Zelenskyy warned against capitulating to Putin’s demands.

    “Russia refuses to stop the killings, and therefore must not receive any rewards or benefits. And this is not just a moral position – it is a rational one,” Zelenskyy wrote in a statement published on social media.

    “Concessions do not persuade a killer,” he added.

  • Isabella Olatunji makes history as first Nigerian to win Mrs. Canada globe

    Isabella Olatunji makes history as first Nigerian to win Mrs. Canada globe

    Isabella Emike Olatunji, a passionate advocate and community leader, has made history by being crowned Mrs. Canada Globe 2025–2026.

    Her victory marks several firsts: the first Nigerian woman to represent Manitoba as a delegate, the first to become a Mrs. Canada finalist, and now, the first to win the national title. 

    She was also honoured with the prestigious Queen of Peace Award, recognising her dedication to peacebuilding and humanitarian work.

    A graduate with a Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Manitoba, Isabella uses her platform to fight period poverty through her organisation, Kingdom Minded Queens (KMQ), which she founded in 2018.

    So far, she has distributed over 300 menstrual hygiene kits to vulnerable populations locally and abroad, including a recent pledge of 100 kits for Manitoba wildfire evacuees. 

    Her reign will focus on securing universal access to menstrual products in Canada, inspired by successful initiatives in Scotland and New Zealand, and advocating for dignified living for all Canadians.

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    Isabella credits her journey’s success to the visionary leadership of Annie Manjuran, Founder and CEO of Mrs. Canada Inc.

    The pageant, founded on the principle of “beauty with purpose,” redefines pageantry as a platform for women’s empowerment. Under Annie’s direction, the organization has created an inclusive space for married women to showcase their intelligence, talent, and cultural heritage. Her initiative proves that a pageant can be a catalyst for positive change and a true force for good.

    She is now set to represent Canada on the international stage at the Mrs. Globe pageant next year. The prestigious Mrs. Globe pageant is owned by Dr. Tracy Kemble and is a proud part of the Women In Need (W.I.N.) Foundation International. Isabella aims to bring home the global crown—a title Canada has not secured in over 30 years. Her journey is a national pursuit, and all support is welcome to help her in this endeavour.

    Isabella’s story is one of unwavering dedication to community empowerment and an inspiring commitment to social equity, proving that with purpose, true beauty has no limits.

    She is the co-founder and director of operations at DTA Automotive Dealership and founder of Eleanor Luxury Apartments. She holds a Bachelor of Science in International Relations and Strategic Studies and a Joint Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies. 

    A passionate advocate for menstrual hygiene product accessibility and community empowerment, Isabella is the founder of Kingdom Minded Queens (KMQ).

  • Nigerian Islamic leaders condemn genocide in Palestine

    Nigerian Islamic leaders condemn genocide in Palestine

    …accuse world powers of aiding Israeli atrocities

    The Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) on Thursday strongly condemned the ongoing genocide in Gaza, calling on Muslim-majority nations and world powers to take urgent and decisive action to stop the Israeli onslaught against the Palestinian people.

    Addressing a mammoth crowd during a press conference at the TMC Dawah Centre, Ijesha, Lagos, Chairman of the Ulamau Wing of CIO, Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad, alongside leading scholars and clerics, decried the mass killings, starvation, and displacement of Palestinians.

    He said, “This crisis is not new. It is the latest chapter in a long history of dispossession and oppression that began with the Zionist movement and was cemented by the Balfour Declaration in 1917. What we are seeing today is not self-defence—it is a systematic genocide, with over 60,000 lives already lost and nearly two million displaced.”

    Citing deliberate attacks on hospitals, schools, and humanitarian aid convoys, the Islamic cleric condemned the use of starvation as a weapon of war.

    “Famine is now declared in parts of Gaza, and children are dying of hunger and preventable diseases. This is a deliberate strategy to make Gaza uninhabitable,” he said.

    Sheikh Ahmad also criticised world powers for their continued support of Israel, accusing them of enabling the violence through military and financial aid.

    “You speak of a two-state solution while actively funding the destruction of one of those states. It is time to sanction Israel and declare it what it truly is—a terrorist regime.”

    A Palestinian, Ramzi Ibrahim, who attended the briefing, told the world leaders that history would not forget those who stand by humanity and those against humanity.

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    Ibrahim expressed optimism that Palestine would be free and occupy its rightful position among the comity of nations.

    Prominent Islamic scholar and Grand Mufti of the CIO, Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i, said: “What is happening in Gaza is not just a conflict—it is genocide, and we must call it by its true name. The killing of innocent children, the bombing of hospitals, the use of starvation—these are war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

    He urged Muslim leaders around the world to move beyond rhetoric and take bold actions in defence of the Palestinian people.

    “We can no longer afford to be divided or indifferent. Nations must come together to challenge this injustice and speak with one voice for the oppressed,” he added.

    In a direct appeal to Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, the CIO clerics urged the suspension of diplomatic relations with Israel and the use of economic and political pressure to bring the aggression to an end.

    The conference ended with a rally and calls for global solidarity and a demand that the international community recognise the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital. The clerics emphasised that this recognition must be backed by action, not empty declarations.

    Sheikh AbdurRahman Adangba said, “This is a fight for humanity. History will not only record the crimes being committed but also those who stood by and said nothing. We urge the world: act now—before it is too late.”