Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas raised an alarm on Sunday about a possible Israeli attack on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.

Palestinian news agency, WAFA, said Abbas raised his concerns in a speech during a special meeting of the World Economic Forum hosted by Saudi Arabia

“If Israel invades the city of Rafah, where most of the people of the Gaza Strip gather, the biggest catastrophe in the history of the Palestinian people will occur, and they will be displaced outside the Gaza Strip.

“We called for an end to the aggression and to supply the population with the humanitarian supplies they need, and under no circumstances will we accept the displacement of Palestinians, whether from Gaza or the West Bank outside their homeland,” he stated.

Abbas also urged European countries to recognise the State of Palestine and recognise it as a full member state of the United Nations.

“There must be a political solution that brings together the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Jerusalem in an independent Palestinian state through an international conference. This is what we have called for since October 7, 2023, until this day,” he added.

Meanwhile, Abbas expressed his fears that Israel would displace Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan by the end of the conflict in Gaza.

Earlier, on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a plan for the ground operation in Rafah but did not allow the army to move yet.

Rafah has become the last refuge for more than 1.4 million Palestinians after their displacement from the northern and central Gaza strip in light of the ongoing violence between Hamas and Israel for more than six months.

CREDIT: DAILY POST

Concerned about the recent decline of the Naira against major foreign currencies, the Senate, through its Committee on Finance, is actively considering various policy options to alleviate the impact of the currency’s devaluation and promote economic stability in Nigeria.

In a statement released on Sunday and signed by its chairman, Senator Sani Musa (APC Niger East), the committee outlined several measures aimed at addressing the currency’s depreciation. These measures include stringent oversight of fiscal policies, engagement with relevant stakeholders, and the development of targeted interventions to support critical sectors of the economy.

Musa emphasized the urgency of addressing the current economic challenges and the imperative of concerted efforts to combat the instability and continuous devaluation of the Naira. He expressed hope that economic managers would adhere to the administration’s standards to achieve the desired economic growth and prosperity for Nigeria, reaffirming the National Assembly’s support for the executive branch in achieving these goals.

While acknowledging the uncertainties facing the economy, Musa urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and resilient, emphasizing that collective efforts can overcome the challenges and lead the nation toward prosperity for all.

The statement, titled ‘State of the Nation Economy and Naira Depreciation,’ highlighted the significant challenges facing the Nigerian economy, both internally and externally. Despite efforts to stabilize economic growth, the persistent depreciation of the Naira against major foreign currencies remains a pressing concern.

The committee underscored the need for proactive measures to safeguard the stability and resilience of the currency. It pledged to closely monitor the situation and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to implement effective policies and strategies. Additionally, it emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of Naira depreciation, including fluctuations in global oil prices, fiscal deficits, and structural imbalances in the economy.

The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, has dispatched a team of 40 observers to Togo to oversee the legislative and regional elections scheduled for April 29, 2024.

In a statement released by the regional bloc on Sunday, it was mentioned that this mission aligns with Article 12 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to assisting its Member States in conducting elections. Leading the mission is Mrs.

Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, the former Vice-President of The Gambia. The team comprises Ambassadors from ECOWAS Member States, representatives from the ECOWAS Court of Justice and Parliament, Civil Society Organizations, media professionals, and election observation experts from the West African region.

This deployment follows the recommendations of a pre-election fact-finding mission that assessed the preparatory phases of the elections in Togo from April 15 to April 20, 2024. Throughout their time in Togo, the observation mission will engage with key stakeholders in the electoral process and closely monitor the voting procedures until April 29, 2024.