The African Union (AU) has said that the denial of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, particularly that of an independent and sovereign state, is the main cause of the permanent Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Chairperson of the Commission of the AU, Moussa Faki Mahamat, who said this in a communique he issued on Saturday regarding the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian war, expressed utmost concern at the outbreak of the current Israeli-Palestinian war that has caused grave consequences for the lives of Israeli and Palestinian civilians in particular, and for peace in the region, in general, as thousands of civilians and military officers have reportedly been killed.

Over 200 Israelis have been killed, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said. At least 256 people in Gaza were killed in the retaliatory Israeli strikes, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.

The African Union’s Chairperson appealed to Israelis and Palestinians to put an end to military hostilities and return, without conditions, to the negotiating table to implement the principle of two states living side by side, to safeguard the interests of the Palestinian people and the Israeli people.

The communique reads, “The Chairperson wishes to recall that denial of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, particularly that of an independent and sovereign State, is the main cause of the permanent Israeli-Palestinian tension.

“The Chairperson urgently appeals to both parties to put an end to military hostilities and to return, without conditions, to the negotiating table to implement the principle of two States living side by side, to safeguard the interests of the Palestinian people and the Israeli people.

“The Chairperson further calls on the international community, and the major world powers in particular, to assume their responsibilities to impose peace and guarantee the rights of the two peoples.”

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