Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade
Photo: AP
President of Senegal calls for immediate ceasefire
Senegalese president calls on Hamas, Israel to commence ceasefire beginning Monday afternoon at 3 pm; both sides deny his involvement in talks
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade called for a ceasefire from Monday between the Israelis and Palestinians, in a statement published by the national daily Le Soleil. Both sides have denied involving Wade in the current talks between them.
"Already I have asked Israel and Hamas for
an immediate ceasefire from Monday at 1200 GMT," he said. Wade called for a halt to Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip and Hamas strikes against Israel.
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The statement followed discussions in Dakar last week between Wade and representatives of the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas.
Wade, current chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, added that he had asked to be informed of any violation of the ceasefire as quickly as possible.
However, the president stressed that his statement "concerns only myself" and called on the parties to make "goodwill gestures without any obligations". he added that last week was the first of an expected seven rounds of talks with the parties, who asked him to mediate in the conflict as acting president of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
According to Wade, his mediation efforts come "at the express demand of Israel and the acceptance of the Palestinians". The president added that he wants to asses the situation on the ground in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Israel "as soon as possible" but did not give a date.
Wade also called on Egypt to allow freedom of movement for the Palestinians and goods moving in and out of Gaza, and ordered the Arab League to join him in supporting his initiative. He said his country would soon send a supply of food, water, and medicine to aid the Gazan residents.
