Pakistan condemns recent Israeli ceasefire violation that killed 32 in Gaza

A general view of destroyed buildings near the Nuseirat camp for Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza Strip on January 31, 2026. (AFP/ file)
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Updated 01 February 2026
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Pakistan condemns recent Israeli ceasefire violation that killed 32 in Gaza

  • Pakistan, other Muslim states say Israeli violations constitute ‘direct threat’ to political process, hinder peace efforts
  • Israel has violated the Gaza ceasefire around 1,000 times since it began on Oct. 10, 2025, killing nearly 500 Palestinians

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan condemns Israel’s recent violation of a ceasefire in Gaza that killed at least 32 people, its foreign ministry said on Sunday, adding that such efforts undermine peace efforts in the Middle East region.

Israel has violated the Gaza ceasefire since it began on Oct. 10, 2025, around 1,000 times, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. Palestinian health officials say around 500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,400 wounded since the ceasefire took effect. The latest attack, which killed 32 people, took place on Jan. 31.

Islamabad condemned Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire in Gaza in a joint statement issued by foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“These actions risk escalating tensions and undermining efforts aimed at consolidating calm and restoring stability, at a time when regional and international parties are working collectively to advance the second phase of President Donald Trump’s peace plan and to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803,” the statement read.

Under the plan unveiled by the White House in Oct., Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas have agreed to a framework in which a Palestinian technocratic administration would operate under the oversight of an international board during a transitional period. The UNSC Resolution 2,803, adopted on Nov. 17, endorsed the peace plan for Gaza.

In their joint statement, foreign ministers of Pakistan and other Muslim countries said Israeli ceasefire violations constituted a “direct threat” to the political process and hinder ongoing efforts to create appropriate conditions for transitioning to a more stable phase in the Gaza Strip, both in terms of security and humanitarian conditions.

Israel’s latest strikes took place after Tel Aviv announced it would reopen the crucial Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday for the “limited movement of people.”

The foreign ministers stressed the necessity of “full commitment” to ensure the success of the second phase of Trump’s peace plan. The joint statement urged all sides to exercise restraint, refrain from any actions that may undermine the peace process and create favorable conditions to move forward toward early recovery and reconstruction.

The foreign ministers also backed the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood in accordance with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
 


‘Fully stand with Bangladesh’: Pakistan PM backs decision to boycott India match

Updated 04 February 2026
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‘Fully stand with Bangladesh’: Pakistan PM backs decision to boycott India match

  • Pakistan’s government have not allowed the national cricket team to play its World Cup match against India on Feb. 15
  • Pakistan has accused India of influencing ICC decisions, criticized global cricket body for replacing Bangladesh in World Cup

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday backed his government’s decision to bar the national men’s cricket team from playing against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup tournament, reaffirming support for Bangladesh. 

Pakistan’s government announced on social media platform X last week that it has allowed its national team to travel to Sri Lanka for the World Cup. However, it said the Green Shirts will not take the field against India on their scheduled match on Feb. 15. 

Pakistan’s participation in the tournament was thrown into doubt after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for replacing Bangladesh with Scotland. The decision was taken after Bangladesh said it would not let its team travel to India out of security concerns. 

During a meeting of the federal cabinet, Sharif highlighted that Pakistan has said that politics should be kept away from sports. 

“We have taken this stand after careful consideration and in this regard, we should stand fully with Bangladesh,” Sharif said in televised remarks. 

“And I believe this is a very reasonable decision.”

Pakistan has blamed India for influencing the ICC’s decisions. The global cricket governing body is currently led by Jay Shah, the head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Shah is the son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah. 

Pakistan’s boycott announcement has triggered media frenzy worldwide, with several Indian cricket experts and analysts criticizing Islamabad for the decision. An India-Pakistan cricket contest is by far the most lucrative and eagerly watched match of any ICC tournament. 

The ICC has ensured that the two rivals and Asian cricket giants are always in the same group of any ICC event since 2012 to capitalize on the high-stakes game. 

The two teams have played each other at neutral venues over the past several years, as bilateral cricket remains suspended between them since 2013 due to political tensions. 

Those tensions have persisted since the two nuclear-armed nations engaged in the worst fighting between them since 1999 in May 2025, after India blamed Pakistan for an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed tourists. 

Pakistan denied India’s allegations that it was involved in the attack, calling for a credible probe into the incident.