ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned a raid by the Israeli military that killed 10 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, calling for a “concrete plan” to rebuild Gaza following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Gunfire and explosions rocked the Jenin refugee camp on Wednesday as the Israeli military continued its large-scale raid for a second day, the AFP news agency reported.
The operation, launched just days after a ceasefire paused more than a year of Israel’s war in Gaza, has killed at least 10 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Israeli officials have said the raid is part of a broader campaign against militants in the West Bank, citing thousands of attack attempts since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023.
“[We] unequivocally condemn the latest Israeli raid in the Jenin refugee camp of the West Bank, resulting in killing of ten Palestinians,” Shafqat Ali Khan, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office, said at a media briefing in Islamabad.
“Such actions potentially undermine the precarious ceasefire in Gaza and international community should take note of it.”
Israeli officials have said the raid is part of a broader campaign against militants in the West Bank. The operation has raised fears of a return of fighting and chaos to occupied Palestinian territories, undermining chances of peace in the region.
Khan said the ceasefire in Gaza was a “milestone” that was achieved through a patient and persistent mediatory role of Egypt, Qatar and the United States.
“We urge the international community to develop a concrete plan for reconstruction of Gaza in line with UNSC [United Nations Security Council] resolutions,” he told reporters.
“We call for accountability of Israeli crimes committed in this brutal war, describing it as an essential element in restoring international legitimacy.”
Israel launched the war on Gaza soon after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel, killing more than 47,000 Palestinians and laying waste to large swathes of the territory.
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”
The South Asian country has dispatched several relief consignments for Gaza, besides establishing the ‘Prime Minister’s Relief Fund’ that aims to collect public donations for the war-affected people.
Pakistan condemns Israeli raid in West Bank, calls for ‘concrete plan’ for Gaza’s reconstruction
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Pakistan condemns Israeli raid in West Bank, calls for ‘concrete plan’ for Gaza’s reconstruction
- Gunfire, explosions rocked the Jenin refugee camp on Wednesday as the Israeli military continued its large-scale raid
- The operation in the West Bank was launched just days after a ceasefire paused more than a year of Israel’s war in Gaza
Pakistan shuts key motorway routes as dense fog envelopes Punjab
- Authorities close major routes as reduced visibility threatens to trigger accidents on motorway
- Air quality of Lahore, Punjab’s provincial capital, recorded at alarming 322 AQI by IQAir index
LAHORE: Dense fog blanketed major motorways in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Tuesday (December 16), prompting authorities to shut down several key routes due to severely reduced visibility and heightened accident risks.
Lahore’s air quality was recorded at an alarming 322 AQI at 6 AM (0100 GMT), earning the dubious title of the world’s most polluted city.
Frustration mounted among stranded commuters, with Mohammad Naeem venting, “We’ve been waiting since 6 AM. The buses are ready, but we haven’t been allowed to board, and we’re not being informed.”
Fellow passenger Hafiz Safar Abbas echoed his sentiment. “The public is uncertain. If the weather clears, the motorways should reopen immediately,” he said
Government authorities are monitoring the situation, working to reopen the motorways once conditions improve, while travelers are urged to stay patient and informed.
