Interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, in a display of unwavering solidarity with Palestine in the face of Israeli oppression, has issued a fervent call to the global community for intervention in safeguarding the lives of Palestinian civilians.
This appeal comes in the wake of an escalating crisis, with over 300 Palestinian lives tragically lost due to retaliatory air strikes unleashed by Israel upon the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas’s military operation titled “Al-Aqsa Storm.” This operation featured the launch of an astounding 5,000 rockets from Gaza into Israel, followed by armed infiltrations into various parts of the southern regions within the country.
The caretaker foreign minister has voiced deep concern regarding this volatile situation, particularly lamenting the loss of innocent Palestinian lives.
“Escalating tensions in the Middle East and the loss of innocent lives deeply trouble Pakistan. We stand in unyielding solidarity with the Palestinian people and urgently implore an immediate cessation of violence and the oppression carried out by Israeli occupation forces,” Jilani passionately conveyed through his statement.
Furthermore, the interim minister has called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, firmly rooted in the pre-1967 borders and aligned with United Nations (UN) resolutions.
According to the Palestinian health ministry, a heart-wrenching toll of at least 370 Palestinians, including 20 children, have been martyred. Additionally, nearly 2,000 individuals have suffered injuries as a result of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza since Saturday.
Israeli forces are engaging in intensive operations against resolute Hamas fighters while continuing to target key sites throughout the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has disclosed the deployment of tens of thousands of soldiers in the southern desert regions close to the coastal enclave. This mission aims to secure the release of Israeli hostages and facilitate the complete evacuation of the entire region within a strict 24-hour window.
Tragically, this perilous conflict has already claimed the lives of senior military officers in combat near Gaza, as reported by the Israeli military.
Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, has declared the widening of this assault to encompass the West Bank and Jerusalem. The people of Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, have grappled with a brutal Israeli blockade that has persisted for 16 harrowing years.
The President of Pakistan, Arif Alvi, has unequivocally condemned the ruthless subjugation of Palestinian rights. He has fervently called upon the international community to step in, emphasizing the imperative adherence to UN resolutions in this critical context.
President Alvi’s poignant words underscore the undeniable truth that progress toward peace is unattainable without the outright condemnation of Israel’s usurpation and brutalization of the rights and lives of the Palestinian people. He asserts that now is the time to proceed in alignment with the UN’s pivotal resolutions, underscoring the significant role the global community can play in the pursuit of global peace.
The Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan had previously voiced its deep concerns about the escalating humanitarian crisis stemming from the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict. This situation unfolded after Hamas initiated one of the most extensive attacks against occupying forces in recent years.
Moreover, Interim Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar has expressed his profound sorrow over the escalating violence gripping the Middle East. This troubling scenario reinforces the pressing need to address the longstanding and intricate “Palestine Question.”
The premier has ardently urged restraint in this crisis and the safeguarding of civilian lives. His belief in enduring peace in the Middle East rests upon the foundation of a two-state solution, with the creation of a viable, territorially continuous, and sovereign State of Palestine.
