African Union chair condemns Israeli ‘attacks’ in Gaza

The head of the African Union Commission (AUC) on Sunday condemned Israel’s “airstrike” in the Gaza Strip, as violence escalated in the troubled region with 31 Palestinians reported killed.

“(AUC President) Moussa Faki Mahamat condemns the continued airstrikes by Israel on Gaza, which have killed more than 30 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children,” an AU statement said.

“The targeting of civilians and the continuing illegal occupation by Israeli security forces of occupied territories is a violation of international law, and complicates the search for an equitable and permanent solution,” the statement said.

Recent fighting in Gaza is the worst Last year after a war devastated the impoverished coastal region, home to some 2.3 million Palestinians, and forced Israelis to seek shelter from rockets.

Israel has intensified bombings of targets of the Iran-backed group Islamic Jihad, and the group has fired more than 500 rockets in return.

Relations with Israel are a rare point of contention for the AU, a body that values ​​consensus, with powerful member states, particularly South Africa, following Israel’s recognition of the bloc as an observer by Faki last year. Strongly opposed the decision to accept

The decision was a major diplomatic victory for Israel, but opposing member states said it contradicted statements by several AU – including Faki himself – supporting the Palestinian territories.

In its statement on Sunday, the AU reiterated its support for “the Palestinian people in their legitimate quest for an independent and sovereign state” with East Jerusalem as its capital.

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