Israel-Hamas war: Oyo Muslims protest, hold solidarity rally in support of Palestinians 

Hundreds of Muslims in Oyo State on Saturday staged a peaceful protest in solidarity with Palestinians, who they described as the victims of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine militant group, Hamas.

The protest, MOUTHPIECE NGR gathered, started at the Iwo Road under bridge around 9:00 am and culminated at OTM Mosque in Iwo Road around 12:00 pm.

The protesters, who gathered at Iwo Road, noted that many innocent lives have been lost as a result of the war.

They explained that they organised the rally in solidarity with Palestinians, who they said have been adversely affected by the war.

Our correspondent reports that the protesters were surrounded by security men, including men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Police, to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Those who were at the rally organised by Congruence of Islamic Organisations in the state

include top Islamic scholars, clerics and leaders of various Muslim organisations.

Some of those who spoke at the rally include Grand Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organisations, Lagos, Sheikh Dhirulahi Shafi, Dr Daud Amao Alaga, Barrister Abdulrahman Olaiya and a professor of Chemical Engineering, Modiu Durowoju.

The protesters, during the rally, called for an urgent peace process to bring the war to an end.

The professor of Chemical Engineering, Modiu Durowoju, who addressed journalists on behalf of the protesters, said that the international community led by the United Nations must retrieve the peace process from the monopoly of the United States.

He also suggested that the UN should prevail upon Israel to cease its bombing campaigns of Gaza and other areas.

He said, “The international community led by the United Nations should prevail upon Israel to cease its bombing campaigns of Gaza and other areas which has brought horror not just to the Palestinians but to the world.

“The United Nations should lead efforts at creating humanitarian corridors and ensuring that aid and relief packages have access into Gaza and other places.

“Any interim peace process must as a matter of necessity, incorporate the lifting of the siege of Gaza.

“The international community led by the UN must retrieve the peace process from the monopoly of the United States which has become part of the Israeli occupation machinery.

The world must work to bring Israel to the Two-States solution, compel it to halt settlement building and lift its siege of Gaza.”