‘Palestine Should Be A Free State,’ President Ruto Now Says
President William Ruto has provided additional commentary on the Israel-Palestine conflict, which has witnessed violence in the Gaza Strip as Israel responds to a militant group Hamas’ attack on October 7.
Ruto stated from the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday, during a summit of African leaders with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, that Kenya rejects terrorism and occupation as viable solutions to any conflict.
“We believe that terrorism cannot be an answer to any conflict; neither is occupation,” Ruto told the convention of mainly pro-Palestine leaders who had gathered to discuss Africa-Saudi relations.
“We believe that Palestine should be a free state and we stand for a two-nation solution as a means of resolving the conflict.”
This stood in opposition to his previous remarks that he issued at the onset of the conflict, in which Ruto declared Kenya’s “solidarity” with Israel.
Kenya has historically advocated for a two-state resolution to the protracted Israel-Palestine conflict. However, at that juncture, Ruto acknowledged the “complex and delicate” nature of the situation and merely requested a cessation of hostilities; he further implored all involved parties to abstain from military engagement.
“Kenya joins the rest of the world in solidarity with the State of Israel and unequivocally condemns terrorism and attacks on innocent civilians in the country. The people of Kenya and their government hereby express their deepest sympathy and send condolences to the families of all victims. We also wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” he said then.
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“Kenya strongly maintains that there exists no justification whatsoever for terrorism, which constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security. All acts of terrorism and violent extremism are abhorrent, criminal, and unjustifiable, regardless of the perpetrator, or their motivations.”
His views were in opposition to those of the African Union, which denounced Israel for instigating the conflict using its illegitimate occupation of Palestinian territory.
Later, Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei defended President Ruto, stating that the head of state was not departing from Kenya’s traditional position of supporting a two-state solution but rather referring to a specific violent incident.
Ruto expressed gratitude to Salman on Saturday for his assistance in the peace negotiations taking place in Jeddah, where the belligerent factions of Sudan have been convening to resolve a six-month-long conflict that has claimed the lives of thousands of individuals.
Ruto conveyed a sense of optimism regarding the potential restoration of peace in Sudan through the negotiations, as he advised the crown prince, “Your involvement in this area will additionally afford us the chance to address the ongoing challenges between Israel and Palestine.”
Hamas-run health ministry statistics indicate that over 11,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza since the conflict began.
More than 1.5 million individuals are displaced, as reported by the United Nations.
‘Palestine Should Be A Free State,’ President Ruto Now Says