Israel-Gaza War: African Union Calls for Ceasefire 

The leader of the African Union Commission has made an appeal to halt the Isreal-Gaza conflict between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds on both sides. 

Moussa Faki Mahamat, the leader urged both parties to engage in negotiations unconditionally, with the goal of implementing the two-state solution where two states coexist peacefully.

Faki conveyed this message in a statement released on Saturday by the 55-member AU bloc on X, previously known as Twitter. He also emphasized the need for the international community, including major world powers, to fulfill their obligations in establishing peace and safeguarding the rights of both peoples. 

In his statement, he further emphasized that the primary cause of the ongoing Israeli-Gaza tension is the denial of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to an independent and sovereign state.

The Isreal-Gaza tension increases

On Saturday, Hamas initiated a large-scale offensive against Israel, unleashing a barrage of thousands of rockets with targets extending as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Simultaneously, Hamas fighters breached Gaza’s security barrier. 

Israel’s military reported that this multifaceted attack, encompassing land, sea, and air assaults, including Hamas fighters targeting Israeli towns and settlements, resulted in the deaths of over 200 Israelis and left 1,000 others wounded.

On Sunday morning, prolonged gun battles persisted between the Isreal-Gaza forces, that is the Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters across various locations in Israel, leading to the taking of hostages, including soldiers and civilians. 

As regards the Isreal-Gaza crisis, Gaza officials reported that the heavy Israeli air strikes on the coastal enclave had resulted in a Palestinian death toll of at least 256, with nearly 1,800 individuals wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned on Sunday that Israel was entering a protracted and challenging conflict, pledging an uncompromising and relentless response against Hamas until their objectives were achieved.