Hamas welcomes AU final communique on Israeli Gaza genocide, blockade
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The Palestinian Resistance movement praises the African Union's position and expresses hope the statement would be translated into actions.
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Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sitting next to the Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh during an African Union 37th Summit held in Ethiopea's capital Addis Ababa on Saturday, February 17, 2024 (AFP)
The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas welcomed on Sunday the final communique issued by the 37th African Union Summit held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, which called for the end of the war and blockade on Gaza.
Hamas praised the final statement, "which calls for an end to the war, collective punishment and genocide against the Palestinian people, an end to the blockade and the implementation of the decisions of the International Court of Justice on Gaza."
Read more: African Union bans entry of Israeli delegation on the eve of summit
"We hope that all African countries will the statement into practical measures to help stop the war and genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," it added.
"We hope that the final communique issued by the African Union Summit will be translated into practical measures and actions by all friendly African countries, contributing to stopping the aggression and genocide against our Palestinian people in Gaza," the Resistance group said.
Read more: ICJ orders 'Israel' to halt genocidal acts; fails to order ceasefire
It also called for "cutting all relations with the criminal occupation entity and supporting the struggle of our Palestinian people until they achieve their legitimate national rights, foremost among them the establishment of the Palestinian state with its capital in al-Quds."
The attendees of the two-day summit discussed a range of issues concerning Africa and the situation in Gaza.
Not a war but a genocide
On the sidelines of the large assembly, Brazilian President Lula da Silva slammed "Israel" for committing "genocide" against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, likening its crimes to those of "Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany."
Reiterating an earlier statement, the Brazilian leader told reporters that "what's happening in the Gaza Strip isn't a war, it's a genocide," detailing that Israeli troops were not fighting "soldiers against soldiers," but rather a highly prepared army against "women and children."
The current events in Palestine had happened in the past when Hitler "decided to kill the Jews," according to Lula.
