Pakistan Supports US Peace Initiative for Gaza at UN Security Council

At the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan voiced its support for the initiative put forth by US President Donald Trump to foster a peace plan for Gaza and the broader Middle East, in collaboration with eight member states of the OIC and Arab nations.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, informed the Council members that Islamabad is prepared to actively engage in the consultative process to facilitate a lasting resolution.

“We acknowledge the endeavor of President Donald Trump, in conjunction with eight OIC and Arab nations, to advance peace through tangible actions,” stated Ahmad during a briefing concerning the Middle East, specifically addressing the Question of Palestine (SCR 2334).

“As a participant in this consultative process, Pakistan will closely engage and play a constructive role in promoting consensus,” Ahmad said, highlighting that the primary objective is to ease the plight of Palestinians and secure a fair, comprehensive, and enduring peace in accordance with UN resolutions.

He noted that the Council has been grappling with the dire situation unfolding in Gaza and other parts of Palestinian Territory for over two years.

He further conveyed the escalating hardships faced by Palestinians, quoting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement from the previous week: “The adversity faced by the Palestinian population stands as one of the most agonizing tragedies in contemporary times.”

The envoy reported that over 66,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, predominantly women and children. He added, “Gaza is not only under aerial bombardment but also its inhabitants are suffering from starvation. Homes, educational institutions, and medical facilities have been reduced to ruins.”

The ambassador emphasized that the intensification of military operations within Gaza City presents a dire catastrophe, potentially causing the forced displacement of approximately one million individuals who are left without any secure haven.

He drew attention to the continuous threats against the two-state solution, notably the E-1 settlement initiative.

“The E-1 settlement plan is a direct assault on the two-state framework, threatening to sever East Jerusalem from Palestinian areas and dismantle the contiguity of the West Bank. Such policies are not only unjust; they are unlawful.

“They violate international law and Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2334, which declared settlements illegal and demanded an immediate halt,” Ahmad said, cautioning that sustained defiance undermines the Council’s credibility.

The ambassador articulated Pakistan’s appeals to the Security Council, encompassing an immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities in Gaza, the removal of the blockade, unrestricted humanitarian aid, the liberation of hostages and detainees, an end to forced relocations and settlement construction, and concrete measures to implement Resolution 2334.

He further advocated for the commencement of a credible political process aimed at establishing a sovereign and viable Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its designated capital.

“The people of Palestine cannot wait. The cause of peace and the credibility of this Council depend on what we do in this moment.

“Pakistan will continue to stand with the people of Palestine, and to work with Council members and other partners towards a just and lasting peace for all in the region,” Ahmad concluded.