
By ESTHER ALEXANDER, Abuja –
The Palestinian Authority has called on the United Nations to form an international investigation committee to investigate and hold accountable all those who committed genocide and war crimes before, on, and after October 7.
This request comes after the recent escalation of violence in the region, which has resulted in significant human suffering and loss of life.
The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, in a statement on Thursday, said the Palestinian authority is seeking a comprehensive investigation into the events leading up to and following October 7, including the killing of 16,927 children, 11,487 women, and 10,449 school students.
The investigation according to him should also examine the destruction of infrastructure, including schools, universities, hospitals, and mosques.

Mr. Abu Shawesh also highlighted the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people, including the 39,059 days since the Balfour Declaration, 28,075 days since the UN Partition Plan of Palestine, 27,907 days since Al Nakba, and 57 years of brutal Israeli occupation.
He said: “39,059 days have passed since the issuing of the despicable and ominous Balfour Declaration, 28,075 days since the UN PARTITION PLAN OF PALESTINE, 27,907 days since Al Nakba, and 57 years of brutal Israeli occupation.

During the 369 days of the latest USA-backed Israeli ongoing genocide, here are some figures:
“16,927 children have been killed, burned and dismembered, while another 17,000 have become orphans. Additionally, 11,487 women have lost their lives, and another 60,000 are in critical condition due to the lack of healthcare. Furthermore, 155,000 are facing multiple challenges in accessing essential healthcare before and after childbirth”.
“96% of Gazans are facing a high level of malnutrition, including 49,300 pregnant women. 36 children have died due to severe malnutrition and dehydration. 65% of the roads network has been destroyed. 31 university buildings have been completely destroyed, while 55 others have been partially destroyed, leaving 88,000 college students and 5,000 professors unable to access their universities.
“The relentless USA-backed Israeli bombardments have claimed the lives of 10,449 school students, 613 university students, 419 school teachers and staff, and 111 university professors and staff. Additionally, 16,250 school students were injured and 625,000 students have been denied the right to education.
“In the Occupied West Bank 11,100 Palestinians are detained, with 40 killed due to severe torture and healthcare negligence. Among those detained are 740 children, 420 women and 9,000 administrative detainees.

“Citing the National Campaign to Recover the Bodies of the Martyrs, the Israeli occupation has abducted and detained nearly 1500 unidentified Palestinian bodies from Gaza since October 7 in refrigerated containers. This includes 582 bodies before October 7, including 56 children and 49 prisoners who died in Israeli prisons, alongside 256 Martyrs buried in the “Cemeteries of Number” since 1967.
“174 Palestinian media correspondents were killed and 190 were injured, with 87 media outlets destroyed. Israel is using all means and measures to stifle the truth and the voice of reality on the ground.
The ambassador further, noted that the Palestinian authority is willing to cooperate fully with any investigation committee, fact-finding mission, or inquiry commission, emphasizing that it is essential to hold accountable all those responsible for war crimes and genocide.