At an extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit on Monday, President Bola Tinubu urged the global community to pursue the actualisation of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stressing that the “conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering.”
Speaking at the one-day summit attended by heads of state from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States, President Tinubu expressed deep concern about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. He emphasised the need for an immediate ceasefire, saying, “As representatives of nations that value justice, dignity, and the sanctity of human life, we have a moral obligation to collectively bring about an immediate end to this conflict.”
Tinubu’s call for an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza was direct. He highlighted that no political or military objective justifies the loss of civilian lives: “The world must work towards an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, which has persisted for far too long. No political aim, no military strategy, and no security concern should come at the expense of so many innocent lives.”
President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for a two-state solution as the only sustainable path to lasting peace in the Middle East. He described it as “a vision grounded in the principles of equality and mutual recognition” that supports the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to self-determination. “Achieving this vision requires a commitment to dialogue and respect for history,” Tinubu added, underscoring the need for context-aware solutions rather than reactive approaches.
Acknowledging the complex challenges to peace, Tinubu cautioned against dismissing civilian suffering as collateral damage. “In a rules-based international order, States have the right of self-defence. But self-defence must take proportionality into account, in line with global legal, diplomatic—and moral—frameworks,” he said.
Tinubu commended Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for convening the summit, calling it a “vital opportunity to renew diplomatic efforts.” The Nigerian leader assured that Nigeria would continue to support peace efforts in the Middle East, pointing to the nation’s own experiences with regional conflict and identity politics as a foundation for its perspective.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in his opening statement, condemned recent Israeli actions, including the targeting of civilians in Gaza and Lebanon and restrictions on the UN Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) humanitarian efforts. Emphasising Saudi Arabia’s commitment to Palestinian statehood based on the 1967 borders, he urged more countries to join a Global Coalition alongside the European Union and Norway to support this vision.
President Tinubu also proposed a dedicated secretariat to oversee the summit’s resolutions, advocating for the appointment of a select group of leaders to monitor and report on progress, with the ultimate aim of achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.
