Islamic group wants FG to sever ties with Israel over Iran conflict

An Islamic group, Al-Harakatul Islamiyyah, has urged the federal government to sever diplomatic ties with Israel and openly condemn the United States over the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

The group warned that continued neutrality amounts to complicity in what it described as “aggression” in the Middle East.

Al-Harakatul Islamiyyah made the call on Friday during its Quds Day commemoration held to mark solidarity with Palestinians and draw attention to the escalating tensions in the region.

In a statement signed by its Amir, AbdulRazzaq AbdulWahab Al-Amin Aladodo, and made available on Sunday.

“It amounts to tokenism to merely call for cessation of hostilities as the aggressors are well known,” the statement read, as it accused both Israel and the United States of driving instability in the region.

The group specifically demanded that Nigeria cut diplomatic relations with Israel, citing alleged human rights violations in Gaza and restrictions around the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It referenced ongoing hostilities in Gaza and broader regional tensions as justification for its position, arguing that continued engagement with Israel undermines global justice efforts.

Al-Harakatul Islamiyyah also linked the current hostilities involving Iran to the broader Palestinian struggle, describing Tehran’s role as central to the resistance against Israel.

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The group claimed that recent developments in the region represent a continuation of long-standing geopolitical tensions tied to the Palestinian question, stressing that not a few observers note that tensions in the Middle East have escalated in recent years, particularly following the October 7, 2023, attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza, which has drawn in regional and global actors.

The group further called on the Muslim-majority countries, particularly Gulf Cooperation Council states, to reassess their strategic alliances and remove foreign military bases from their territories.

It further urged unity among Muslim nations, warning that divisions within the Islamic world would continue to weaken collective responses to the Palestinian crisis.

“The Muslim Ummah must rise above sectarian divides and use all available means to support the Palestinian cause,” the statement said.

The organisation criticised ongoing diplomatic normalisation efforts between some Arab nations and Israel, particularly the Abraham Accords, describing them as detrimental to Palestinian interests.

It urged countries such as the United Arab Emirates not to restore diplomatic engagement with Israel amid the current crisis.

Reports has it that Quds Day, observed annually in many parts of the world, is dedicated to expressing solidarity with Palestinians and opposing Israeli control over Jerusalem, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites.