**Calls for, asks FG to press for two-state solution
The Senate has urged the Nigerian government to take steps in partnership with other countries to put an end to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war to save lives and property.
The upper legislative chamber also urged the federal government to press for two-state solution as a panacea for permanent resolution to the Israeli-Palestanian crisis as earlier agreed by the United Nations since 1948.
The resolutions came after a motion sponsored by Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila (Kano South) and co-sponsored by 28 others.
Since the conflict broke out in October, thousands, including women, children and aid workers had been killed and injured while residential buildings, schools, health facilities and worship centres had been bombed.
The two-state solution calls for establishment of an independent state for Palestinians alongside that of Israel.
Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi), who presented the motion, said the casualty figures in the ongoing war were horrifying and that if not ended immediately, it may lead to world war III.
Quoting figures from the UN agencies, Kawu, in the motion, said since the recent conflict started in October, 18 places of worship had been destroyed, 22,600 residential units damaged 19 medical centres, 90 education facilities, 70 industrial facilities and 49 media offices razed.
He said in recent years, there has been a renewed effort to negotiate a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians but these talks have so far failed to produce a lasting agreement.
Kawu said if urgent steps are not taken to address the situation, the battle may spread to neighbouring countries and then to the allies of Israel and Palestine, which may further result in the loss of more lives and properties.
Senators who contributed to the debate, including Barau Jibrin (Kano), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia) and Sani Musa (Niger), all condemned the killings on both sides and called for immediate end to the hostilities.
Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, said, “What we need now is a ceasefire so that people who are being killed every day will no longer be killed. So many have lost their lives; so many children have been left orphaned.
“All you see on television about the conflict are dead bodies and so forth. This is not acceptable. All this is not good for the modern world.
“We should add our voices to those of responsible people all over the world that Palestine and Israel should come together and accept the two-state solution for permanent peace to prevail in that region of the world.”
Abaribe said “having experienced Nigerian civil war in 1967 as a child, an eye for an eye will lead to everybody not having eyes at all. I call for immediate ceasefire and end to the conflict.”
Senator Sani Musa (Niger) condemned killings on both sides, saying Nigeria should be seen to be on the side of peace.
“The Israelis and Palestinians should have the rights to live in peace,” he said.