The 38th African Union summit called on African leaders to “halt to any form of cooperation or normalisation with Israel until it ends its occupation and aggression against Palestine.”
Groundxero | Feb 17, 2025
The 38th Ordinary Summit of the African Union held in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa from February 15 to 16, in the closing statement, reaffirmed that the displacement of Palestinians from their land is a “violation of international law”.
The summit denounced Israel’s military actions in Gaza, describing them as “barbaric aggression,” and condemned “Israel’s war and brutal aggression on the Gaza Strip”. It called for the Zionist entity to be held accountable for “committing genocide against the Palestinian people.”
The African Union is made up of 55 Member States which represent all the countries on the African continent. The summit statement called on African leaders to “halt to any form of cooperation or normalisation with Israel until it ends its occupation and aggression against Palestine.”
Held in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, the summit declared that “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people and must be prosecuted internationally.” https://t.co/f3PfX42iP5
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 16, 2025
This unequivocal solidarity and support for Palestine struggle comes after the U.S. President Donald Trump, last week, during a press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu, dismissed Palestinians’ right to return to their homes, and disclosed his plans to take control of Gaza by displacing its entire Palestinian population to neighbouring countries, namely, Egypt and Jordan.
Similarly, during a summit held last February, African leaders had condemned the Israeli aggression on Gaza and urged for a ceasefire. It reiterated its support for the UN General Assembly’s efforts in seeking a resolution, advocating for an end to illegal settlements and respect for Palestinians’ right to self-determination under international law. On February 26, 2024, the African Union intervened before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in proceedings lodged by the United Nations General Assembly requesting the Court to opine on the legal status of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories. On 30 October 2024, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed deepest concern at the adoption of two laws by the Israeli Parliament to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in defiance of international law.
Addressing the African Union summit, Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, said a “resumption of hostilities must be avoided at all costs,” adding that the Palestinian people “have suffered too much.” The UN Chief said he welcomed “efforts by the parties to abide by the ceasefire agreement – and urge action for a permanent ceasefire and release of all hostages.”
Gaza’s Health Ministry has confirmed 48,271 Palestinian killed in the Zionist occupation’s genocidal war on Gaza, while 111,693 people have been wounded. The Government Media Office has updated its toll to at least 61,709 people, saying thousands missing under the rubble are now presumed dead.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas has welcomed what it called “the principled and courageous” position of African leaders at the summit. “This firm position of AU strengthens our people’s resistance against Israeli crimes,” the movement also said, according to the Quds News Network.
Hamas welcomed the African Union’s firm stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza and its call to isolate the occupation state.https://t.co/v9mOCRDbas
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 17, 2025
In a related statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its support for the African Union’s stance, particularly regarding the occupation and its plans for displacement and annexation.