Chairperson of the African Union Commission: We must "stop the genocide" of the Palestinian people

SadaNews - On Saturday, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Yusuf, called for a "halt to the genocide" of Palestinians during the opening of the 39th annual summit of the union.

Ali Yusuf, who was elected to head the commission a year ago, stated: "In the Middle East, Palestine and the suffering of its people challenge our consciences. This genocide must be stopped."

The small Gaza Strip has been under a tight Israeli blockade since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, following an unprecedented attack by Hamas in southern Israel, which resulted in 1,221 deaths, mostly civilians, according to a count by the Agence France-Presse based on official Israeli data.

Israeli air and ground bombardments in response to Hamas's attack have left at least 70,000 Palestinians martyred, the majority of whom are women and children, according to data from the health ministry in the territory, which the United Nations considers credible.

Despite a ceasefire that came into effect on October 10, Israel controls the entry of all goods, aid, and people into the territory, which is suffering from a humanitarian crisis.