The deputy speaker of the Gambia’s National Assembly, Seedy Njie, has condemned Israel’s “inhumane killings” of Palestinians in Gaza and asked the International Community to swiftly end the atrocity. 

In his speech at the 147th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Luanda, Angola, Njie told the delegates the world is witnessing one of its “worst inhumane and barbaric massacres and human rights violations of our times in Palestine.”

“Thousands of innocent women, children and civilians are being killed by the hour, religious buildings, hospitals, schools and public places being destroyed as a result of the horrific, indiscriminate and barbaric airstrike bombardments in the Gaza Strip by Israel, in total disregard of international laws and all UN Resolutions,” he said. 

Njie continued: “It is must be forthrightly stated that not all Gaza residents are Hamas. The people of Palestine must be allowed to live in their land as a sovereign nation and people, and in line with the two-state solution approach. 

“The United Nations, through the UN Security Council and other World bodies continue to engage in futile diplomacy and politics while Israel continues to murder thousands of Palestinians and destroying Gaza and Palestine.

“The International Community and us as representatives of the people are failing in our responsibilities. While we are busy engaging in empty rhetoric, thousands continue to endure suffering and being deprived of basic necessities like food, water, electricity, basic medicines and shelter. This is atrocious and inhumane. 

“In Gaza, humanitarian aid is short; the world must stand resolute and take a decisive action to end the hypocrisy and politicising of the United Nation Security Council’s veto power and act more responsibly to avert global catastrophe.”

He called on all parties in this catastrophe to respect and act in accordance with international law and avoid further killings of civilians and all previous United Nations resolutions on Palestine and Israel.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba