Pakistan Condemns Israel’s Plans for Palestinian Territory

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar voiced Pakistan’s firm condemnation of Israel’s escalating rhetoric concerning Palestinian lands on Monday.

He noted that the Israeli cabinet’s unveiling of plans to extend full military control over Gaza, alongside the Prime Minister’s suggestion of a “Greater Israel,” revealed Israel’s intention for annexation.

Addressing the 21st Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Jeddah, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s demand for an immediate and effective ceasefire, guaranteed humanitarian aid, an end to displacement, an end to illegal settlements, accountability for atrocities, and the enforcement of global laws.

Dar stated that the assembly convened again amidst bloodshed in Gaza due to violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, UN resolutions, and the ICJ’s ruling. He emphasized that Israel was committing these actions with impunity.

“Gaza has transformed into a graveyard for innocent people and international law. Over 60,000 Palestinians, largely women and children, have perished in Israel’s intense military aggression,” he added.

He contended that targeting hospitals, schools, UN facilities, aid convoys, and refugee camps was deliberate and constituted collective punishment visible to the world.

“Gaza is facing a large-scale humanitarian disaster, enduring relentless bombardment, blockade, deprivation, and starvation, while violence increases in the West Bank and Jerusalem,” Dar stated.

Dar criticized the humanitarian system established by the occupying power as a cruel facade, noting widespread famine and civilians being targeted while seeking food, leading to an unprecedented hunger crisis.

He remarked that Israel has displayed insensitivity to international norms, with recent provocative statements indicating contempt for the international order.

Pakistan strongly condemned these dangerous statements, opposing actions that would worsen the humanitarian situation and undermine peace efforts.

Pakistan supported the statement by the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, rejecting the Israeli announcement as an attempt to solidify illegal occupation.

“Pakistan also fully endorsed and joined the statement issued by 31 Arab-Islamic countries, along with the Secretaries General of the OIC, the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council, condemning the Israeli Prime Minister’s outrageous insinuation about the creation of a so-called ‘Greater Israel’,” he said, adding that this statement constituted a direct threat to Arab national security, to the sovereignty of states, and to regional and international peace and security.

He quoted the Prime Minister of Pakistan, stating that the root cause of the tragedy is Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, asserting that peace will remain elusive until the occupation ends.

Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Arab states in protecting their sovereignty and expressed gratitude to those advancing peace in Gaza.

Pakistan welcomed the growing international backing for Palestinian statehood and urged states to recognize the State of Palestine.

“It must now be followed up by coordinated international action to realise the long-overdue settlement, based on a viable, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine, on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” Dar stressed.

He emphasized that history would judge them by their actions, not words and stressed the Palestinian people needed concrete measures.

The DPM said the Palestinian question was a litmus test for the credibility of the so-called “rules-based order”.

To safeguard the global order and to move beyond the perpetual cycle of violence and destruction in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, he said Pakistan reiterated the following seven urgent and essential steps:

  1. An immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire across Gaza.
  2. Unfettered humanitarian access to civilians in need, and the protection of aid workers.
  3. Renewed international support to UNRWA, which remained indispensable to the survival of millions of Palestinians.
  4. An end to forced displacement, illegal settlement expansion and annexation of Palestinian land.
  5. Implementation of the Arab and OIC-led reconstruction plan for Gaza.
  6. The revival of a genuine and time-bound political process to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting two-state solution.
  7. Accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

He further added that any desecration of Al Aqsa Mosque is an intolerable provocation, incursions into Al-Quds Al-Sharif are a deliberate assault on Muslim settlements, a blatant violation of international law, and a direct challenge to the collective conscience of the Muslim Ummah.

The DPM said the primary responsibility for ensuring global peace and security lay with the UN Security Council and should impose a cost on Israel if it defies the demands.

Dar further said: “Palestine is a priority for Pakistan. As a non-permanent member of the UNSC, Pakistan will continue to work with the OIC and Arab partners to mobilise global support for the Palestinian right to self-determination, justice, and peace.”

He stressed the OIC must act with urgency and determination and end the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.