The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, ISHAQ Dar, approached on Monday the extraordinary meeting of the Islamic Cooperation of the Council of Foreign Ministers (OIC-CFM) in Jeddah, stating that the comments of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a “greater Israel” threaten regional peace.
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed more than 62,000 people and injured 157,951, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The United Nations warned last week that with the Israeli forces that block the aid, half a million people face “catastrophic hunger” in Gaza, with famine conditions that will probably extend even more through the strip. Meanwhile, Israel has continued its bombing after approving a plan to take control of the city of Gaza, qualifying it from the “last bastion of Hamas”.
Giving said that in recent days, Israel exhibited its “sordid -characteristic insensitivity to international standards” with highly provocative and unjustified statements that encapsulate its “growing disdain and absolute contempt” for international order.
“The shameless audacity of the so -called Israeli Cabinet, by revealing its ominous plan to extend the total military control of Israel over Gaza, as well as the recent allusion of the creation of a ‘great Israel’ in the mentality of Israel and the mentality of Israel.”
Pakistan strongly condemned Netanyahu’s comments, stating that they require an action that would aggravate the already humanitarian situation and undermine peace efforts in the Gaza Strip.
“We join the declaration issued by the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, together with other countries, by expressing a strong condemnation and categorical rejection of the Israeli announcement, denouncing it as an unacceptable escalation and a shameless attempt to strengthen the illegal occupation by coercion,” he said.
Pakistan also completely backed down and joined the statement issued by 31 Arab-Islamic countries and the general secretaries of the OIC, the League of the Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council, condemning Netyahu’s comments on “Great Israel.”
“His statement (from Netanyahu) constitutes a direct threat to national Arab national security, to the sovereignty of states and regional and international security,” said Dar.
“The root cause of this current tragedy is the prolonged illegal occupation of Israel of the Palestinian territory. While this occupation lasts, peace will remain difficult,” he said, citing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “We completely support our fraternal Arab states to safeguard their sovereignty against threats to their territorial independence and integrity.”
‘Acts without sense of collective punishment’
Dar called Gaza “a cemetery for innocent lives, as well as for international law,” lamenting the death of more than 60,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
“The systematic orientation of hospitals, schools, UN facilities, aid convoys and refugee fields is not incidental, these are acts of collective punishment in world vision,” said Prime Minister’s deputy.
“Gaza is supporting a large -scale humanitarian catastrophe. For almost two years, it has suffered an indiscriminate bombardment, a total blockade and the deliberate deprivation and starvation, while violence and disposses are intensified in the West Bank and Jerusalem.”
The prime minister stressed that the established humanitarian system was a “cruel illusion” and pointed out that an unprecedented crisis and famine are rampant in the coastal enclave.
“Pakistan expresses his deep appreciation for all states and interested parties that play a role in the progress of peace in Gaza. His continuous contributions and firm support remain essential in the search for stability and justice for the Palestinian people,” he said.
Dar also welcomed the “international impulse” towards the recognition of a Palestinian State by governments around the world and appreciated the International Conference on the solution of two states, which was co -presided by Saudi Arabia and France, on July 28.
“We urge those states that have not yet recognized the state of Palestine to do so as soon as they can,” he urged.
“We need to do more. (The conference) must now be followed by an international coordinated action to make the agreement that has long ago, based on a viable, sovereign and contiguous state of Palestine, on the basis of the borders prior to 1967, with Al-Sharif (Jerusal),” added Dar.
‘A decisive moment for Muslim Ummah’
Dar described that the Palestinians no longer need messages of sympathy, but concrete action to end their suffering and guarantee their freedom of Israeli occupation.
“This is a decisive moment for the Muslim Ummah. History will not judge us for our words but for our actions,” he emphasized.
“The OIC must assume this challenge with unity, resolution and purpose. Another Nakba cannot, and should not, not being able to happen,” he added, referring to the incident when 760,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes during the 1948 war with Israel.
Highlighting that the Palestine question is a fire test for the international order based on rules, FM Dar presented the following seven “urgent and essential steps” to finish the Gaza crisis:
- A high immediate, permanent and unconditional fire through Gaza and the Palestinian territory occupied with full implementation of resolutions of the CSNU.
- Humanitarian access without restrictions, sustained and safe to all in need and the protection of humanitarian workers, medical teams and UN staff
- Strengthen international support to UNRWA, which remains indispensable for the survival of millions of Palestinians, with IIC playing a proactive role in this end
- The purpose of forced displacement, illegal settlements and annexation of Palestinian lands, particularly in the West and Jerusalem East
- The implementation of the OIC reconstruction plan for Gaza, which represents a vital framework for the recovery and rehabilitation after conflict, sustainable development and restoration of the dignity of the people of Palestine.
- The rebirth of a genuine process to achieve a solution of two fair, comprehensive and lasting states in accordance with international law and relevant ICL resolutions
- Responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity
Previously, Dar arrived in Jeddah to attend the meeting on the Gaza crisis in the midst of Israeli aggression and plans to take advantage of the total control of the city of Gaza, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO).
“Vice Minister Vice Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar […] He has reached the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to participate in the 21st extraordinary session of the Council of Foreign Affairs (CFM) of OIC that is held today in the OIC Secretariat in Jeddah, ”said the FO in the statement.
“The DPM/FM was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport Jeddah by Pakistan’s permanent representative to OIC, Ambassador Fawad Sher, Pakistan ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq and the General Council of Pakistan in Jeddah, Khalid Majid.”
He added that the session will bring together foreign ministers and senior officials of the OIC Member States to deliberate the coordinated responses to the growing developments in Palestine, derived from the current Israeli military aggression, proposed plans for total military control over Gaza and the continuous egregious violations of Palestinian rights.
Yesterday, the FO said FM will reject Israel’s “scandalous” plan to occupy Gaza in the extraordinary session and emphasize the urgent need for humanitarian assistance without obstacles.
“He will reaffirm the unwavering support of Pakistan to Palestine and reiterate his position of principles and require the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, above all, the establishment of an independent, contiguous and sovereign Palestinian state,” he said.
The OIC is the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations, with 57 Member States. It was established in September 1969 in response to Israeli terrorist attacks against the Al Aqsa mosque in occupied Jerusalem.
As a founding member, Pakistan has been at the forefront of the efforts of the OIC to defend the Muslim causes, from the freedom of the Palestinian and Kashmite peoples that fight under the foreign occupation, until defending the rights of Muslims in Myanmar and Bosnia, until conflicting in Muslim lands such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and Libyia.
‘Full control’ of Gaza
Last week, Tel Aviv approved a plan to take control of the city of Gaza, describing it as the last bastion of Hamas.
Defense Minister Israel Katz promised to continue with the offensive in the city where the famine has been declared, which has given alarm abroad and objections at home. Katz has said that the city of Gaza would be razed unless Hamas accepts the terms of Israel.
Hamas said that Israel’s plan to take care of the city of Gaza showed that the fire was not taken seriously, and said that a high fire agreement was the only way to return Israeli prisoners, responsible for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The proposal on the table requires a high fire of 60 days and the release of 10 live Israeli prisoners held in Gaza and 18 bodies. In turn, Israel would free about 200 long -standing Palestinian prisoners in the hands of Israel.
Once the temporary fire begins, the proposal is that Hamas and Israel begin negotiations on a high permanent fire that would include the return of the remaining Israeli prisoners.
Netanyahu said last Thursday that Israel would immediately resume the negotiations for the liberation of the 50 Israeli prisoners held by Hamas, of which Israel believes that around 20 still live, and the end of the war of almost two years, but in acceptable terms for Israel.
Hungry ‘Made by man’
According to a report published last week by the United Nations Food Security Phase Integrated Food Safety Phase (CPI), the famine in Gaza was “completely made by man” and could be “detained and reversed”, but required an “immediate response” to do so.
“The time has passed for debate and doubt; hunger is present and is extending rapidly,” said the committee in a report.
“There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that an immediate response is needed at scale. Any additional delay, even for days, will result in a totally unacceptable escalation of mortality related to famine.”
The report also warned that avoidable deaths “would increase exponentially” unless a fire was implemented to allow humanitarian aid and restore the delivery of food and basic supplies to the population of Gaza immediately.
Pakistan offices help
Meanwhile, a new shipment of 100 tons of products of help to Palestine was sent from the International Airport of IQBAL of Allama Lahore through a special flight about the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, marking the 21st consignment sent for the people of Gaza, the state Run Associated Press of Pakistan (app) reported.
Shipping includes ration bags, meals ready to eat and canned fruits to meet the urgent food needs of the Palestinian people. With this shipment, the total aid volume sent by Pakistan to Gaza has reached 2,027 tons through 21 shipments, according to the report.
More to follow.
