ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Thursday called for an immediate cease-fire and an end to the siege of Gaza by Israel, saying the “core issue” behind the conflict was the failure to implement the two-state solution.
Gaza health officials say bombings by Israel have killed nearly 3,500 people and wounded more than 12,000 — more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks — since an Oct. 7 raid by Hamas gunmen who rampaged through southern Israel, killing 1,400 people.
Israel has imposed a total blockade on the territory since the Hamas attack, with food and drinking water, fuel and food having run out.
Pakistan does not recognize the state of Israel and supports an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
“Pakistan remains deeply concerned about the situation of our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Gaza,” the foreign office said, condemning Israeli aggression and blockade, particularly Tuesday’s attack on a Gaza hospital in which some 500 people were killed.
“Israel’s actions violate international humanitarian and human rights law. Deliberate attack against civilian targets constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the foreign office added.
“We call for an immediate cease-fire; an end to the siege of Gaza; and the facilitation of humanitarian corridors for unrestricted relief supplies.”
Palestinians evacuate wounded from a building destroyed in Israeli bombardment in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on October 19, 2023. (AP)
Speaking about Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani’s attendance of an urgent Ministerial Meeting of the OIC Executive Committee held in Jeddah on Wednesday and co-convened by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the foreign office said the dignitary had stressed that the “core issue underlying the conflict was the failure to implement the two-state solution.”
“He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for Palestinian self-determination and advocated for the establishment of a secure, contiguous, and sovereign Palestinian state,” the foreign office said.
“The Joint Communiqué adopted after yesterday’s meeting reflects the unified stance of the Muslim Ummah on the Gaza situation. Pakistan has been actively engaged in consultation with OIC member states as part of our contribution in developing this consensus.”
In the last few days, Jilani has met with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan, Türkiye and the UAE.
“These conversations were centered around an in-depth discussion of the evolving situation in Gaza, with a particular focus on the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by the Palestinian people due to Israeli aggression and the siege of Gaza,” the foreign office said.
A chartered aircraft carrying 100 tons of essential medical supplies, tents, and blankets will depart from Islamabad for Egypt on Thursday, the statement said.
Egypt has long said its crossing to Gaza is open on its side but aid cannot get through due to Israeli bombardment on the Gaza side. Cairo has also firmly rejected any suggestion that it open the border to allow a mass exodus of Gazans to flee to safety.
Israel has said it would allow limited aid to reach Gaza from Egypt provided none of it benefited Hamas. But it has repeated its position that it will open its own checkpoints to let in aid only when all of the more than 200 hostages captured by the gunmen were set free.
And it made clear there would be no let-up in its bombing campaign:
“In the Gaza Strip, every place where Hamas has touched or is touching will be struck and destroyed,” a colonel identified as the commander of Israel’s Ramat David air base told public broadcaster Kan.
