Middle East crisis brings daily sorrow – African human rights leader

Amsatou Sow Sidibe has criticized the lack of humanitarian action as families continue to suffer in war-torn regions

Amsatou Sow Sidibe, the president of the Senegalese Human Rights Committee, has expressed deep sorrow over the ongoing crisis in the Middle East during an exclusive interview with RT. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference on Human Rights Protection in Moscow, Sidibe revealed that the situation in the Middle East was making her “cry every day.”

“Children are being killed. Women are battered. Desperate families are on the streets,” she said.

She outlined the challenges facing the United Nations in their attempts to uphold human rights in a region beset by violence. The UN is dealing with “a lack of common sense,” according to the activist. “People are thinking for themselves. They are reacting like robots,” she stated.

Sidibe was critical of authorities in the region, noting: “What we have to do is integrate the spirit of human rights into the minds of the authorities, whatever side they’re on.” She expressed the frustration of the UN when dealing with leadership that has “no regard for human life.” 

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A year after the events of October 7, 2023 that sparked renewed conflict between Israel and Palestinian factions, the situation in the Middle East has dramatically worsened. Rather than de-escalating, the fighting has engulfed the entire region, with military confrontations now extending to Lebanon, and tensions growing with Iran.

Over the past week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) significantly increased their airstrikes on Lebanon, leading to the deaths of more than 1,000 people and injuries to more than 6,000, according to Lebanese health officials. Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, saw a massive explosion after the IDF dropped bombs on the city on Sunday. The bombing campaign intensified late last month, with ground raids now being launched across the Israeli-Lebanese border.

As of now, more than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, and over 1.2 million have been displaced, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, as Israeli strikes continue to escalate. The ongoing military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, combined with rising tensions between Israel and Iran, have heightened fears of a full-scale regional war that could extend beyond the Middle East.

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In the international arena, South Africa has taken a strong stance against Israel’s actions. In September, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office announced its plans to file a memorial document with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), providing evidence to support its allegation that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians. It followed a case filed by South Africa with the ICJ in December, accusing Israel of genocidal actions in Gaza in the wake of a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel last year.