Riyadh(SONNA)-President of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has on Monday evening addressed the Extraordinary Arab Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, expressing that Somali government stands with the Palestinian people and called for an immediate ceasefire and release of all hostages and detainees.
The Speech of the President is below:-
The Extraordinary Arab Islamic Summit
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Monday November, 11 2024
His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
His Excellency Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League,
His Excellency Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation,
Your Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses, the Kings and Presidents of the Arab and Islamic countries,
Your Excellencies and Honourable Heads of Delegations participating in this Summit,
Assalamu Aleikum Warahmatullah,
I am honoured to participate in this extraordinary Arab Islamic Summit regarding Gaza which is being held under the severe circumstances that the Palestinian and Lebanese people are experiencing as we speak today .
I would like to express my sincere gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, their King, Government and people for the generous hospitality and warm welcome accorded to us.
Your Majesties, Highnesses, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We gather today under the shadow of immense suffering and urgent need. Gaza is now enduring an unprecedented destruction and humanitarian crisis. This situation is not only a call for regional solidarity but a test for humanity as a whole. It demands immediate, and concerted global attention and action to save human lives. The escalating violence in Gaza and its spill-over to Lebanon is not only catastrophic to the people affected but also plunges the region and the world into further instability.
The Somali people with their own history of conflict deeply sympathize with those affected by this crisis. We understand, perhaps more than most, that prolonged suffering weakens not only individuals but the very fabric of societies and their ways of life. Therefore, our government stands with the Palestinian people and call for an immediate ceasefire and release of all hostages and detainees. This momentary halt could save human lives, relieve suffering and create the conducive space for dialogue that is urgently needed now.
I urge the international community to come together in a unified effort to protect the vulnerable people in Palestine, allowing for humanitarian aid and life-saving resources to reach those who need them most.
Our collective humanity obligates us to prioritize diplomacy, compassion, and cooperation over conflict and its resulting destruction. Let diplomacy and our own human conscience and values lead us toward peace and reconciliation, setting aside division and mistrust for the sake of those enduring unspeakable suffering.
The question of Gaza is one that transcends political and ideological divides; it is, at its core, a matter of human rights, dignity and justice. A sustainable and peaceful resolution can only be achieved through the establishment of a Palestinian State within the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. This is the only guarantee for the region to transition into a new era characterised by peaceful coexistence for the benefit of all.
I once again, thank his majesty, the Custodian of the two Holy mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz and His Highness Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman bin Abdulaziz for convening this summit. I wish that this summit will adopt concrete and tangible commitments for the implementation of the two state solutions.
Let us work together to usher in a future where cooperation and mutual respect form the foundation of peace. By doing so, we can bring hope, security, and stability not only to Palestine but to the broader Middle East and the wider world at large.
In conclusion, at this critical time of need for global stability and investment in sustainable development our actions today will shape the future, LET US MAKE THEM COUNT.
I thank you all.
