ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday urged the nation to remember the people of Palestine suffering “ruthless” occupation at the hands of Israel, state-run media reported, as millions of Pakistanis celebrated Eid Al-Adha.

Eid Al-Adha is one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar. Muslims mark the Eid Al-Adha holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats, and the meat is shared among family and friends and donated to the poor.

The day began with Sharif and senior officials across the country offering Eid Al-Adha prayers in mosques and praying for Pakistan’s progress and prosperity.

“He [Sharif] said today, we must especially remember our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are enduring ruthless and inhumane oppression and hunger,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.

The Pakistani premier’s message comes as the Israeli military presses on with its intensified military campaign in Gaza, issuing an evacuation order for residents of parts of the city on Friday as the Middle East celebrated Eid Al-Adha.

The Pakistani prime minister also urged the masses to remember the people in Indian-administered Kashmir, saying that they were involved in a “just and courageous” struggle for their right to self-determination for decades.

In his message to the nation, President Asif Ali Zardari said there was a pressing need to support the underprivileged and marginalized segments of our society.

“Asif Ali Zardari said as a nation, we must support each other, share in each other’s sorrows, and work together to build a prosperous and great Pakistan,” Radio Pakistan reported.

Pakistan Army’s military leadership paid tribute to the “unwavering resilience” of the Pakistani nation, recognizing the sacrifices of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and citizens who continue to uphold the security of the country.

“The Pakistan Armed Forces stand resolutely with the people, united in purpose and steadfast in their sacred duty to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country,” the Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s media wing, said.