JUST IN: Tinubu departs Riyadh following Joint Arab-Islamic Summit
By Kunle Sanni
President Bola Tinubu has departed Riyadh after attending the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Saudi Arabia.
Arriving in Riyadh via King Abdulaziz International Airport at 10 a.m. on Sunday, President Tinubu joined Heads of State and Government from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States for the one-day summit, which served as a continuation of last year’s Riyadh summit.
During the summit, President Tinubu called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine conflict, urging all parties to seek a peaceful resolution.
On Monday, Western Post reported Tinubu’s appeal for peace in Gaza, calling for an end to Israeli aggression and advocating a two-state solution to enable both Israelis and Palestinians to coexist securely and with dignity.
Background
The Israel-Gaza conflict escalated sharply on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of around 251 hostages. This attack prompted a strong response from Israel, which has since engaged in an intense bombing campaign on Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas, the governing group in the region.
Despite growing international calls for a ceasefire, Israel has asserted it will continue its operations until Hamas is eradicated. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has since intensified, with international health organizations reporting over 41,000 fatalities, many of whom are women and children. Food, water, and medical supplies are nearly exhausted, with a global hunger organization warning that northern Gaza is on the brink of famine. If the conflict persists, nearly half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents could face starvation, underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian intervention.
