Hussein Hachem, a Senegalese citizen, was overcome with grief as he embraced his injured daughter, Mariam, who had just arrived from Lebanon. His 14-year-old son, tragically killed in a bombing, was not with them.
As Israeli forces intensified their offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hachem’s family was among the hundreds of Senegalese nationals forced to flee the escalating conflict. Mariam, 11, sustained a broken foot and was one of 117 Senegalese repatriated on a government-organized flight.
“I lost everything,” Hachem lamented, recounting the devastating loss of his son and home. “We have a 14-and-a-half-year-old son who just disappeared. Ten minutes before, I was talking to him.”
Senegal, with a significant Lebanese diaspora, has a long-standing relationship with both Lebanon and Palestine. The Senegalese government has condemned Israel’s bombardment of civilians and infrastructure in Lebanon.
Foreign Minister Yassine Fall expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Lebanon and Gaza, calling it a “genocide.” She highlighted Senegal’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.
Israel has vehemently denied accusations of genocide, asserting that its actions are in self-defense. The conflict, triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in a devastating toll on civilians in both Gaza and Lebanon.
In solidarity with the Palestinian people, demonstrators in Dakar marched to protest Israel’s actions and demand a ceasefire in the region.