Muslims in Zambia condemn Israel attacks on Gaza

Muslims in Zambia condemn Israel attacks on Gaza
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Saturday, January 03, 2009 7:21:07 AM

THE Islamic Council of Zambia has condemned Israel's brutal attacks on the Palestinian people in Gaza. And the Zambian government is still examining the warring situation involving Israel and Gaza before coming up with a comprehensive position on the conflict.Meanwhile, Pope Benedict XVI has again called for peace in the Middle East, saying hatred and a lack of trust are also forms of poverty that must be combated.

The Grand Mufti of Zambia Sheikh Assadullah Mwale stated in a press release that the Islamic community in Zambia was fearful that Israel's incursions into Gaza would undermine attempts to negotiate peace in the Middle East.

“The whole world has been thrown into a shock once again when Israel, despite enraged protests across the world, has continuously pressed ahead with its unpopular attacks against Gaza under the pretext of protecting its citizens from Hamas rocket-fire, killing 300 innocent people in only three days,” Sheikh Mwale stated.

“The Islamic Council of Zambia, which is a member of the 27 Muslim councils and associations from 27 countries and Africa as a whole is appealing for urgent cessations of hostilities, which are indeed crimes against humanity, which also violates the UN Charter.”

Sheikh Mwale further stated that the attacks on the enclave of Gaza were an unfortunate act that tended to undermine the human rights and sovereignty of the Palestinians.

“We therefore, condemn in the strongest terms, possible, all conditions put on the people of Palestine to undermine their independence and sovereignty and I call upon the entire world to do the same. The Middle East Peace process must continue and realistic measures put up to ease up the tension,” he stated.

Sheikh Mwale called on the United Nations to protect the weak nation of Palestine against all forms of aggression by restraining the Israeli government from carrying such disproportionate attacks against Gaza.

“The United Nations must not be a spectator when world peace and international law and order are threatened,” stated Sheikh Mwale.

And asked what the Zambian government's position on the recent violence involving Israel and Palestine's Gaza, chief government spokesperson Lt. Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha responded: “Not yet.”

When asked if the Zambian government had started the process of coming up with a position on what the Israeli government had described as an 'outright war' against Hamas, Lt. Gen Shikapwasha said the government was still examining the situation.

Meanwhile, Pope Benedict took up the theme of peace in the Holy Land at the end of his homily on New Year's day, which also marked the World Peace Day, held under the theme: ‘Fighting Poverty to Build Peace.’

His exhortation, according to the Vatican news agency, Zenit, was joined to an appeal he made last Sunday during his address for the midday Angelus.

As Israel's attack of Gaza continued for the sixth day, more than 400 Gazans, including a top Hamas official, his wife and children, had been killed.