Religious Leaders in Mauritius Condemn Violence in Holy Land, Call for Accountability

Port Louis, 20 November, 2023 / 9:00 PM

Religious leaders in the Indian Ocean Island nation of Mauritius have condemned the ongoing violence in the Holy Land, which they say includes “ethnic cleansing”.

In a statement issued Monday, November 20, members of the Council of Religions (CoR) in Mauritius urge that those behind the violence be held accountable, and advocate for a “two state solution” in the conflict.

“At the Council of Religions in Mauritius, we seek to promote the universal values of peace and justice and therefore condemn all violence against civilians, and against children in particular,”  the leaders say in their statement obtained by ACI Africa.

They add, “We reject in the strongest terms all calls for ethnic cleansing, forced displacement or the permanent displacement of people.”

Members of the Council of Religions in Mauritius continue, “Perpetrators of violence should be held accountable, whether the violence took place in the West Bank, Israel or Gaza.”

“Without ignoring or minimizing the suffering caused by over 75 years of Arab-Israeli conflict and ongoing Israeli occupation, we recognize the heinous nature of the violence perpetrated by Hamas against civilians on October 7, 2023, and the pain and suffering inflicted on Gazan civilians by the Israeli response,” the religious leaders in the Indian Ocean Island nation further say.

The push for “a negotiated settlement”, arguing that only this “can lead to lasting peace”.

“We call on Israeli and Palestinian leaders and all those they represent to reinvigorate their efforts to achieve a two-state solution in accordance with UN resolutions and the consensus of the international community,” members of CoR say.

They further observe, “Leaders on both sides have repeatedly adopted positions of rejection - refusing to recognize each other's rights to self-determination and statehood. Any rejection by the protagonists should be universally condemned.”

The religious leaders in Mauritius implore for peace and urge every “religious community across the country to do likewise.”

Since October 7, at least 1,200 Israelites have reportedly been killed with about 6,900 more being injured. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has reported that at least 11,240 people have been killed and another 29,000 injured in the neighboring Gaza Strip.