African Union Chair Says Israel Is Committing 'Extermination' of Palestinians, Demands Immediate Halt

At the opening of the African Union’s 39th summit in Addis Ababa on Feb. 14, 2026, AU Commission chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf publicly condemned what he called the "extermination" of the Palestinian people and demanded it stop.

“At the opening of the African Union's 39th summit, AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the "extermination" of the Palestinian people must stop”

Al Jazeera

His statement put the AU squarely on record as calling for an immediate halt to Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

Al Jazeera

Youssouf addressed leaders from all 55 member states.

He used the summit platform to directly attribute the mass killing and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza to Israel’s actions.

The two-day summit, officially themed on water and sanitation, instead became a forum for emergency security and humanitarian appeals as leaders grappled with the Gaza catastrophe and multiple African wars.

Leaders from all 55 AU member states attended, with Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni as guest of honour.

Al Jazeera

Youssouf coupled his Gaza denunciation with warnings about heavy civilian tolls in Sudan, the Sahel, eastern DR Congo and Somalia.

The gathering highlighted both the immediate demand to halt Israel’s siege and strikes on Gaza and wider African instability that the AU said is costing civilian lives.

Multiple outlets cited Gaza casualty figures and placed responsibility on Israel’s siege and strikes.

“The Fatah movement and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) confirmed that the Israeli occupation is the one obstructing the entry of the National Committee to administer the Gaza Strip, and they called for pressure on it to provide all the conditions necessary for the committee to succeed in its work”

Al-Jazeera Net

The Hindu and Kuwait Times cite Gaza health ministry figures that at least 71,667 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s campaign began after Oct. 7, 2023, and describe Gaza as being under a strict Israeli siege.

thenationalnews and Oman Observer note that hundreds more have been killed since a recent truce began (591 and more than 500, respectively), and thenationalnews reports Israeli strikes have continued even after the truce.

These sources attribute the mass Palestinian deaths to Israel’s military campaign and blockade.

Delegates at the summit pressed for concrete steps to translate ceasefire rhetoric into civilian administration and relief on the ground.

Oman Observer reported that Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, speaking via Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, demanded Israel remove obstacles to phase two of the US‑brokered Gaza ceasefire, including allowing a technocratic committee to run Gaza’s daily affairs.

Hürriyet Daily News

The report said 15 Palestinian experts intended for that committee remain stuck in Egypt, and UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov said Hamas must transfer civilian control before the experts can enter.

The reporting shows procedural bottlenecks that participants say prevent an end to the siege and ongoing Israeli strikes.

The sources show an African Union that is condemning Israel’s actions in strong terms and demanding an immediate halt to what Youssouf called the 'extermination' of Palestinians.

“Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking at the African Union’s 39th summit via Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, urged the removal of Israeli-imposed obstacles blocking the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire”

Kuwait Times

The AU is also grappling with wider African crises.

Kuwait Times

Reporting differs on naming the AU chair and on casualty tallies.

Reports also vary on whether coverage focuses on procedural ceasefire steps or on the immediate human toll.

Across The Hindu, Oman Observer, thenationalnews, Kuwait Times and Nigeria Info FM the central thrust is consistent: African leaders are calling for an end to Israel’s siege and strikes and warning of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.