Somalia urges end to Israeli occupation, vouches for two-state solution

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia has called on the international community to press Israel to end the ongoing conflict with Palestine noting it stood for a two-state solution per all the relevant Security Council resolutions.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Balal Osman told a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic States (OIC) Sunday it was time to end the violence and continue pursuing the two-state solution.

“The Federal Government of Somalia, therefore, joins with the rest of Islamic World for the calls to end the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories and ensure the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment its own independent state with East Jerusalem as its undisputed capital,” Osman said.

Somalia continues to support the two-state solution,” Osman added, “Based on international parameters and on 1967 lines, with Israel and an independent viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition.”

The virtual meeting came amid an escalation of violence as both Israeli forces and Hamas exchanged heavy fire. The 57 member OIC condemned Israel for ‘barbaric acts’ and ‘systematic crimes’ in the weeklong conflict.

At least 181 people among them children were reported to have died as of Sunday. Meanwhile Amnesty International has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe crimes against humanity in the ongoing conflict.