Ruto phones Netanyahu expresses concern over the Gaza situation
President William Ruto on Thursday phoned Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed concern over the situation in Gaza.
In a statement on X, the President said the situation in the besieged enclave and rising human casualties has reached unacceptable levels.
“I have had a telephone engagement with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. I have expressed Kenya’s concerns over the deteriorating situation in Gaza where the loss of lives has reached unacceptable levels,” he said.
The President said he hopes Palestine and Israel will embrace peace to end further loss of lives.
“I underscored Kenya’s belief in a two-state solution that would allow a peaceful side-by-side existence of the states of Israel and Palestine. I’m hopeful of an immediate end to the conflict in Gaza,” Ruto said.
Ruto nonetheless said that Kenya condemns all acts of terrorism even as it calls for cessation of hostilities between Israel and Palestine.
“Kenya abhors all forms of terrorism and it is our principled position that they must be eradicated.”
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Israel launched retaliatory attacks on the Gaza Strip following Hamas’s surprise attack on Western Israel on October 7, last year.
Heavy bombardment and ground artillery fire on the enclave have until now claimed over 26,000 lives majority of whom are women and children.
The devastation in the Gaza Strip prompted South Africa to file a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of perpetrating genocide against the people of Palestine.
The court delivered its ruling on January 26 after two days of hearings and ordered Israel to cease immediately any acts constituting the crime of genocide.
The court, however, fell short of calling for a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has said time and again that he will not allow the creation of another state of Palestine.
He said military assault on the Gaza strip will continue unabated until the last Hamas fighter is exterminated.
Two weeks ago, he told local council chiefs from communities near Gaza that going by the current assessment, the war may extend into 2025.
Ruto phones Netanyahu expresses concern over the Gaza situation