The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote on a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. This follows a similar initiative blocked by a United States veto in the UN Security Council. The resolution also demands the immediate release of all hostages and unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza, where civilians have endured over a year of conflict, particularly in the severely affected northern region. Key Points of the Resolution: Background of the Conflict: The current escalation began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, which claimed 1,208 lives and saw 251 hostages taken, as per official data. Israeli military operations have since resulted in over 44,786 deaths in Gaza, primarily civilians, according to UN-verified data from the Gaza Health Ministry. Reactions and Criticism: Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour referred to Gaza as “the bleeding heart of Palestine,” urging global action to address the dire humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon criticized the resolution for not addressing what he termed “the infrastructure of hate” and accused the UNRWA of complicity in Hamas’s actions. Additional Proposals: A separate resolution will call for Israel to respect the UNRWA mandate, enabling its continued humanitarian operations. This comes after Israel’s ban on the agency, set to take effect on January 28, drew widespread international criticism. READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Chanel.
Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode, the Rector of Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary located in Ivhianokpodi, Agenebode, Edo State, who was kidnapped by suspected herdsmen in Etsako East Local Government Area, has been released. According to LMSINT MEDIA, Oyode was taken on October 27 during an attack on the Catholic Diocese of Auchi. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on a Sunday, during a prayer session and Benediction when priests and seminarians were present. Reverend Father Peter Egielewa, Director of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, released a statement providing details of the event. The statement, titled “Diocesan Minor Seminary Attacked, Rector, Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode Abducted,” mentioned that on October 27, 2024, gunmen attacked the seminary at approximately 7 p.m., interrupting the evening prayers. During the attack, the rector was taken and led away into the forest. The statement added that the Vice Rector and all seminarians were unharmed and relocated for safety pending enhanced security measures. Authorities were notified, and assistance was awaited to secure the release of Fr. Oyode. The Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary was founded in 2006 by the Catholic Bishop of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, with over 500 graduates produced since its inception. The Diocese urged the public to join in prayers for Oyode’s safe return. Fr. Oyode Released After 11 Days Reports surfaced on Thursday confirming Fr. Oyode’s release after 11 days of captivity. Although no official church or police statement has been issued regarding his release, a Catholic community member’s Facebook post confirmed it. The post read: “Good NEWS, Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi has been released from the kidnappers’ den. Indeed, what God cannot do does not exist. Thank you all for your unrelenting passion for God’s servant and prayers.” It was reported that during the abduction, Oyode negotiated the release of the students initially captured with him and offered himself instead. Two days after the incident, the kidnappers demanded a ₦200 million ransom. However, it remains unclear if any ransom was paid for his release. READ ALSO: Adamu Garba Accuses Obama of Undermining Biden and Contributing to Kamala Harris’ Election Defeat
