ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday it remained committed to providing humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine and Lebanon, as dozens were killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley this week. 

Israel has carried out thousands of air strikes across Lebanon over the past five weeks, targeting what it says are Hezbollah’s operatives, infrastructure and weapons. It also launched an air and ground offensive in Gaza in October last year, killing over 42,000 Palestinians since. 

Pakistan has so far dispatched 17 relief consignments for Gaza and Lebanon, including winterized tents, food items and hygiene kits. Pakistan has also set up a special account, “Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Gaza and Lebanon,” under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directions, for donations for the people of Gaza and Lebanon.

“Pakistan remains committed to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Lebanon and Palestine,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a weekly press briefing. 

“Last week, Pakistan sent two more planeloads of humanitarian aid to Lebanon. Thus far four special cargo planes with essential humanitarian supplies have arrived in Lebanon from Pakistan. Our support will continue.”

Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s call for an “immediate secession of hostilities” as well as the protection of civilians and “unrestricted humanitarian access” to those in urgent need. 

Baloch urged the world community to intervene to end Israeli’s “genocidal” campaign against Gazans and hold it responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other multilateral platforms and demanded international powers and bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza.