‘Your silence on Gaza massacre is frightening,’ Muslim leaders tells President Ruto

Kenyan Muslim leaders have urged President William Ruto to address the invasion of Israel into the Gaza Strip and the subsequent massacred of over 42,000 people since the war broke out last year.

Addressing the media during the launch of Voice for Palestine, a consortium of different organisations including Jamia Mosque Committee, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) and the Kenya Association of Muslim Medical Practitioners (KAMMP) expressed concern over the President's continued silence on the issue.

They now want the Head of State to pronounce himself on the Israel-Hamas war which is now a global concern.

Voice for Palestine Chairman Ahmed Sharif said what is being witnessed in Gaza is not just a crisis but a massacre of human dignity, and a brutal assault on the very essence of life.

"The restless bombings, the suffocating blockage and helplessness of children and mothers are frightening the whole world and Kenya's government needs to be among those world leaders to voice to Israel to stop this massacre," said Sharif.

The Muslim leaders spoke as they also launched the Gaza Medical Campaign aimed at raising USD 500,000 (approx. Ksh.64.5 million) to help access medical assistance to thousands of Palestinians who have been wounded in Gaza following Israeli air strikes.

SUPKEM leader Hassan Ole Nado said the campaign is aimed at raising funds to help in the treatment of the victims of the genocide in Gaza.

"This will at least alleviate the sufferings of those wounded but are unable to get medication due to lack of medical availability," said Ole Nado.

The leaders said it is a harrowing humanitarian situation in Gaza which has also spread into Lebanon, as they made a call for peace in the Middle East with concerns growing on the eruption of a full-scale conflict in the region.

"As we are all aware, Gaza is in the midst of a harrowing humanitarian disaster, the like of which has never been seen in this century," they said in a joint statement.

As of Wednesday, more than 42, 000 people had been killed since Israel started bombing the Gaza Strip one year ago, leaving thousands displaced and thousands more wounded.

The Kenyan Muslim Organizations have already raised Ksh.50 million to assist humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

Voice for Palestine is working with other internationally recognized agencies to help the people of Gaza receive medical treatment in and outside the enclave.

"Through this initiative, we are hoping to raise at least USD 500,000 (approx. Ksh.64.5 million) towards the Gaza Medical campaign," stated Sharif.

The Israel attack on Gaza has since spread over to Lebanon where it is facing daily attacks which have killed more than 1,000 people and led to massive destruction and displacement others.