Pakistan on Wednesday condemned recent Israeli raids and a blockade of Gaza and called for international help for the resumption of supplies to the area to avert what it called a looming humanitarian crisis.
A prolonged Israeli blockade of the Strip in retaliation to missile firing into its territory was tightened six days ago to a full-scale lockdown with the Jewish state halting all fuel shipments and even the entry of humanitarian aid.
"Pakistan condemns the recent Israeli acts of aggression against the people of Gaza," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Sadiq told a weekly news briefing.
"We call upon the international community to ensure an urgent and complete lifting of Israeli blockade on Gaza and the resumption of fuel, food and other humanitarian supplies to the suffering Palestinian people," he said.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians poured into Egypt on Wednesday to stock up on goods after militants blew up parts of the border with the Gaza Strip. "The increased Israeli hostilities have exacerbated the humanitarian suffering and economic hardship of the Palestinian people," Sadiq said.
Sadiq added that at the request of Iran, the executive committee of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) would meet at or immediately after the weekend.
When asked, the spokesperson said an initiative by President Pervez Musharraf to resolve Palestine dispute was still 'on the table'. "We are taking to other friends...and the initiative is very much on," Mohammad told a questioner.