Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar announced on Thursday a complete ban on New Year celebrations in Pakistan to express solidarity with the Palestinians.

In a special video message shared by the Prime Minister Office (PMO) on X, the interim prime minister requested the nation to show solidarity with the people of Gaza who have been facing Israeli aggression since October 7.

Israel has pounded Gaza Strip, killing more than 21,000 Palestenians, mostly children, in air strikes and ground operations started after Hamas's attacks on October 7, which killed around 1,200 Israelis, according to Israeli estimates.

“The whole Pakistani nation and the Muslim world are in a sheer state of anguish over the massacre of innocent children and genocide of unarmed Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank,” PM Kakar said.

Israeli aggression in Gaza add to heavy Palestinian toll

Pakistan has already sent two consignments of aid to Gaza and will soon send a third one to help the Palestinians, he stated.

PM Kakar informed that Pakistani authorities were in contact with Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts to make sure that the efforts were directed for the betterment of the Palestinians.

Earlier today, the Pakistani military's top brass also reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a peaceful conclusion to the ongoing conflict, while expressing full sympathy with the people of Palestine and denouncing the egregious abuses of human rights and war crimes occurring in Gaza.