Hamas Praises The African Union For Expelling Israel's Ambassador From The Genocide Conference

Bodies of victims of Israeli attacks in Gaza/DOKmen UNOCHA

JAKARTA - The Palestinian Hamas group praised the African Union's decision to expel Israel's ambassador to Ethiopia from the genocide conference of Rwanda by describing the move as a bold stance.

Anadolu reported on Tuesday, April 8, Israel's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Avraham Neguise, was expelled on Monday (7/4) from a conference on the genocide of Rwanda organized by the African Union in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

In a statement, Hamas said the stance was in accordance with the values and principles of the African Union, as well as its historical position in supporting the Palestinian struggle and the struggle of the Palestinian people against Zionist colonialism.

As reported by ANTARA, Hamas said Israel's courage had reached an unprecedented level by sending representatives to a conference on genocide, while committing genocide crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.

Hamas urged regional and international organizations around the world to impose a thorough boycott of Israel, and prevent it from exploiting their platforms to justify its crimes against the Palestinian people.

A statement from Israel's foreign affairs office said Neguise was expelled after state members of the African Union refused to participate with her at the conference.

In February 2023, an Israeli diplomat was also expelled from the top meeting of the 36th African Union head of state held in Addis Ababa.

The incident comes as Israeli soldiers launched a deadly attack on Gaza on March 18 and has since killed more than 1,400 people, injured more than 3,400 others, and destroyed ceasefires and deals with prisoner exchanges in January in the enclave.

More than 50,700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in brutal Israeli attacks since October 2023, most of whom are women and children.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant last November for Israel's Chief Authority Benjamin Netanyahu and former Yoav Gallant's Chief of Defense for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing genocide cases at the International Court over its war in the enclave.