Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif criticized on Friday the approval of the Israeli cabinet of a plan to occupy the city of Gaza as a “dangerous escalation.”
Early in the day, Israel’s political security cabinet approved a plan to take control of the city of Gaza, almost two years after its invasion of the Palestinian territory. The approval occurred hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel intended to take military control of the entire strip, American news agency Reuters reported.
“We firmly condemn the approval of the Israeli cabinet of a plan to take illegal and illegitimate control of the city of Gaza. This is equivalent to a dangerous escalation in an already catastrophic war against the people of Palestine,” said Prime Minister in an X.
He added that the expansion of military operations will only worsen the existing humanitarian crisis and will derail any peace perspective in the region.
“We must not lose sight of the root cause of this ongoing tragedy: that is, the illegal and illegal occupation of Israel of the Palestinian territory. While this occupation endures, peace will remain difficult to achieve,” added the prime minister.
“Pakistan reiterates its unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine, with al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital, in line with the relevant UN and OIC resolutions.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz asked the international community to intervene urgently to stop Israel’s unjustified aggression, guarantee the protection of innocent civilians and guarantee the direct delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
Previously, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shafqat Ali Khan, in his weekly information session, announced that Federal Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar officiated the sending of the 18th consignment of humanitarian aid to Gaza in a ceremony held at the Islamabad International Airport today.
“According to the directives of the Prime Minister, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in close coordination with the relevant partners, facilitated the sending of this shipment, which is the 18th sending of Pakistan,” said the FO spokesman.
The sending of aid composed of essential supplies that include dry ration packages, meals ready to eat and medicines. The ceremony was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NDMA and the Palestine Ambassador to Pakistan, he added.
This shipment takes the total humanitarian assistance from Pakistan to Gaza to 18 shipments, which includes 1,815 tons of vital relief supplies, he added, saying that “this sustained support reflects Pakistan’s solid solidarity with Gaza’s people.”
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed 61,258 and wounded 152,045 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The bombings have also destroyed 88 percent of the Gaza Strip, according to the Gaza Media Office, with Tel-Aviv facing accusations of genocide.
On Thursday, the World Health Organization said that it was now known that 99 people died from malnutrition in the Gaza Strip so far this year, with the figure probably an underestimation.
International outrage on the humanitarian situation in Gaza has increased pressure on Israel, with UN agencies warning about famine in the devastated Palestinian territory.
At the beginning of the week, Israel’s military chief had backed up against Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to confiscate Gaza areas that he still did not control, three Israeli officials said, since the prime minister faced a growing pressure on the invasion both at home and abroad.
For Condemns Israeli Plan for the complete military acquisition of Gaza
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a separate statement, condemned the Israeli plan for the complete military acquisition of Gaza.
“Pakistan condemns the Israeli plan informed for a complete military acquisition of Gaza,” said the statement.
This not only represents another flagrant violation of international law and the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, but also the intention of the occupation power to further expand its genocidal military campaign, added the statement.
This highly staircase will further aggravate the serious humanitarian situation and the suffering of civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory, in addition to undermining international efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region, the FO said.
“Pakistan reiterates his call to the international community to guarantee an immediate purpose for Israeli impunity and his genocidal military campaign,” FO said, asking for concrete measures for the provision of humanitarian supplies without obstacles to millions of Palestinians in terrible needs, and hold Israel for their crimes.
