Islamabad (Web Desk): As heavy Israeli bombardments continued to hit the Palestinian enclave for sixth day of war, Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemns the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force by Israeli authorities against civilian population in Gaza, and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
While addressing the weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan is deeply concerned about the deteriorating and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the blockade and collective punishment by Israeli Forces. She said Israel must allow unhindered access of humanitarian aid to Palestinian people.
The spokesperson said that Pakistan urges the United Nations (UN) to play a proactive role in facilitating ceasefire to alleviate the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and the international community must ensure comprehensive and lasting two-state solution towards sovereign state of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds-Al-Sharif as its capital.
The FO spokesperson stated that the "decision to cut off electricity, fuel and water supplies was unjust and should be reversed as it would severely impact the lives of millions of people in the enclave”.
“The current cycle of aggression and violence is a sad reminder and a direct consequence of over seven decades of illegal foreign occupation, aggression and disrespect for international law, including UNSC resolutions that recognise the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people,” Baloch added.
The FO spokesperson said that Pakistan had been constantly warning against serious consequences of Israel’s “escalatory and provocative actions in recent months”. She said the “unprecedented gravity of the situation demands urgent intervention by the international community”.
The FO statement comes after Israel imposed a “total siege” to stop food and fuel from reaching the enclave of 2.3 million people, many poor and dependent on aid in response to a surprise Hamas offensive on Saturday that left 1,200 Israelis dead, according to officials.
In retaliatory air and artillery strikes, Israeli forces have flattened entire neighbourhoods, hospitals and schools in Gaza, killing 1,200 Palestinians since Saturday, and displacing more than 338,000. Yesterday, electricity went out after the only power station stopped working.
Pakistan urged the UN to play a proactive role in facilitating a ceasefire to alleviate the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
“The international community must work in concert for a just comprehensive and lasting two-state solution with a viable, sovereign and contiguous state of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital. Peace in the Middle East will remain elusive in the absence of such a solution," the FO spokesperson said.
