ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday demanded the international community take decisive steps to end the “genocide” in Palestine, reaffirming solidarity with the people of Gaza as tensions with Israel flare in the Middle East again. 

Zardari’s statement came following the disagreement between Hamas and Israel over the next steps in the Jan. 19 ceasefire, with the Jewish state resuming air strikes in Gaza this Tuesday followed by ground operations the day after.

On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to annex parts of Gaza unless Hamas frees the remaining Israeli hostages seized in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

“Here, we express solidarity with Palestine and reaffirm our resolve for their right to self-determination,” Zardari told participants of a military parade held in Islamabad to mark Pakistan’s republic day. 

“The international community must immediately take decisive steps to end Palestinian genocide. The Palestinian masses must have complete independence in their own country without any external interference,” he added. 

Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel resulted in 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.
Nearly 50,000 people in Gaza have been killed in the war since then due to Israel’s retaliation, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

Of the 251 Israeli hostages taken that day, 58 are still being held, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Pakistan does not recognize the state of Israel, and its passport explicitly states that it cannot be used for travel to the country. 

Islamabad has repeatedly called for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.