Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advised nations and institutions against taking sides in the renewed Israel-Palestine conflict.
Jonathan stated this in a statement he personally signed on Monday.
Nearly 200 have been killed in the renewed conflict.
“At least 188 Palestinians have been killed in hundreds of airstrikes in Gaza Strip, including 55 children and 33 women, with 1,230 people wounded. Eight people in Israel have been killed in rocket attacks launched from Gaza, including a 5-year-old boy and a soldier,” American media outlet, CNBC reported Monday.
Jonathan’s admonition came a few days after Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he called Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari to seek Nigeria’s support to teach Israel a lesson.
“I have been to both Israel and Palestine, and as a result, I have some understanding and appreciation of the human angles on both divides.
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“Borders are often human constructs, but the Divine instruction we have is to love our neighbor as ourselves.
“The present conflict in that part of the world can never be resolved by nations and institutions taking sides. It can only be resolved by those living within the borders of Israel and Palestine taking time to understand each other until they come to a place where they can coexist, co-prosper and eventually cooperate.
“For that to happen, what is needed, in the immediate term, is a ceasefire, followed by massive confidence building on both sides.
“That is what the international community should aim for. Peace. It is achievable.
“I sue for peace in both Israel and Palestine, and urge that every international support should be towards deescalating the conflict, rather than escalating it,” Jonathan’s statement read.