ISLAMABAD: Pakistani politicians on Sunday urged the government to intensify diplomatic efforts by sending envoys to influential countries and to bring the Muslims together to help stop Israeli aggression against innocent civilians in Gaza.
The developments came as the Israeli military intensified its strikes on Gaza from the land, air and sea, which began after more than 1,400 people were slain in Israel during a surprise incursion by the military wing of Palestinian organization Hamas on Oct. 7, according to the Israeli government.
The Palestinian death toll passed 7,700, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, more than 110 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids. The United Nations (UN) says over 1.4 million people have been displaced in Gaza since hostilities began.
Asked about Islamabad’s response to Israel’s war on Gaza, Pakistani politicians called upon the government to step up its efforts for immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
“Pakistan should send special diplomatic missions to China, Russia, and other powerful countries to engage them to support Palestinians and put pressure on Israel and its allies to stop this war against innocent civilians,” Senator Taj Haider, a senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), told Arab News.
A picture taken from Israel's southern city of Sderot shows smoke rising during Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip on October 29, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (AFP)
Haider noted that people across the world had come out in support of the Palestinians.
“I am looking more toward China because of the way they did it in Saudi Arabia and Iran truce, so they can play a vital role in this conflict as well,” he said.
Raja Zafarul Haq, chairman of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), said the Muslim world should “act” instead of merely offering verbal support to the Palestinians.
“Islamic countries should use their collective power to stop this cruelty by Israel and Pakistan should play its role to unite the Muslim world on one strong stance,” he told Arab News.
Haq said the United States had used its veto power due to which nothing was moving forward and that was the reason a UN General Assembly session was called.
“One hundred and twenty countries have signed the immediate cease-fire [resolution] and the General Assembly has never made such a big decision but despite this, there has been no cessation of bombings and attacks,” he lamented.
A picture taken from Israel's southern city of Sderot shows Israeli shelling of the northern Gaza Strip, on October 29, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (AFP)
Last week, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution with an overwhelming majority that called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. One hundred and twenty countries voted in favor of the non-binding resolution, introduced by Jordan, while just 14 voted against it, including the United States.
While the initiative was completely symbolic, it underscored the overwhelming international support for Palestinians amid Israel’s bombing campaign.
Liaqat Baloch, deputy emir of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) religious party, welcomed the UNGA resolution and statements of the UN secretary-general in support of Gazans but raised the issue of the implementation of the resolution which he said was not in sight so far.
“Today, not only Muslims but all the people who have respect for humanity are out and protesting against Israeli injustices and brutalities,” Baloch told Arab News.
“Pakistan as an important Islamic country also has not given a strong reaction that is why the Pakistani public is out on the roads to mount pressure on the government to give a strong reaction to Israeli allies.”
Pakistan does not recognize the state of Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on the UN resolutions and the pre-1967 borders with “Al-Quds Al-Sharif” as its capital.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani urged the international community to pressure Israel into announcing an “immediate cease-fire” in Gaza.
Haq’s JI party also held a massive rally in Islamabad on Sunday to protest Israel’s bombardment of Palestinians in Gaza and urged the Pakistani government to play a role in stopping Israeli strikes.
Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, secretary-general of the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), said the killing of Palestinians has been taking place for the last three weeks, but the Muslim world had not reacted strongly to the Israeli attacks.
“If the Muslim world wants, they can save Palestinians from the tyrants of Israel as they have the power, and all kinds of resources but unfortunately, they have given a very weak response,” he told Arab News.
