Eritrea called on the international community on Sunday, January 19, to support the aspirations of the people of Palestine for an independent state as a long-awaited ceasefire took effect in Gaza.
Source: Eritrea’s ministry of information.
Quote: “Once again in the 21st century, the people of Palestine have demonstrated, through unparalleled sacrifices and resilience, that the inalienable rights of peoples to liberation and independence cannot be vanquished by force and coercion.
“As such, the people and government of Eritrea urge all peace-loving peoples to extend their support to the crystallization of the ultimate aspirations of the people of Palestine for an independent Palestinian state.”
The Eritrean government also congratulated the people of Palestine on a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip, which came into effect on Sunday.
“The people and government of Eritrea reaffirm what is not novel but indeed their historical solidarity, with the Palestinian people. Congratulations Palestine!” Eritrea’s ministry of information said in a statement on its website.
Background: In 2011, Eritrea said it did not support the so-called “two-state solution” to the Palestinian question due to its inability to be translated into action.
Various media reports indicated in the 2010s that the Horn of African nation did not recognise the State of Palestine because the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat used to have relations with Ethiopia under Mengistu Haile Mariam.
It is not clear whether or not the Eritrean government has shifted its stance towards Palestine in recent years.
