The Somali government strongly condemns the recent attack on al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, which killed hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children. Despite ongoing investigations, the Somali government blames Israel for the airstrike.
Mogadishu, SOMALIA.
In an official press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, the government placed responsibility for the attack on Israeli forces, who currently occupy the Palestinian territories. “The occupying Israeli army bears responsibility,” stated the Ministry’s release on X (formerly Twitter).
The Somali government decried Israel’s actions in Gaza as a blatant violation of international laws, regulations, and human values. Expressing deep concern for the escalating violence and the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza, Somalia has called for immediate international intervention to halt the bloodshed.
Furthermore, the government emphasized the urgent need to establish safe corridors to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people in the Gaza Strip.
First time addressing the conflict
This is the first time the Somali government has publicly addressed the current conflict, which began on Saturday, 7 October. The government’s delayed response likely stems from concerns of potential pressure from Western countries that support Somalia’s efforts in combating al-Shabaab, building government institutions, and pursuing other crucial endeavours.
Al-Ahli Hospital explosion
The massive explosion shook a Gaza City hospital on Tuesday. According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, the strike claimed the lives of at least 500 people. Hamas, labelling the hospital explosion as “a horrific massacre,” attributed the incident to an Israeli airstrike.
On the other hand, the Israeli military pointed to a misfired rocket by other Palestinian militants, the Islamic Jihad group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller, more radical Palestinian militant group that frequently collaborates with Hamas. The Israeli military asserted that Islamic Jihad militants had launched a salvo of rockets from a place near the hospital. Their spokesman cited “intelligence from multiple sources”.
Al-Shabaab supports for Hamas
Last week, the Somalia-based terrorist group al-Shabaab expressed support for Hamas in an official statement. The statement from the group supports and celebrates the 7 October attack on Israel, which Hamas called ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’. Al-Shabaab further promised to conduct ‘solidarity attacks in East Africa’, putting Kenya on high alert.
The statement commenced by congratulating Hamas for their efforts. It characterized the ongoing battle not merely as a conflict between Israel and one Islamic faction in Palestine but as a struggle for the entire Muslim community. Al-Shabaab urged Muslims to unite and back the Mujahideen in their fight against the Jews and their allies. They consider those infidels and hypocrites.
