Expressing deep anguish and concern over the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza due to relentless Israeli aggression, Pakistan on Thursday called for an unconditional ceasefire and an immediate end to the Gaza blockade. Sharing the government of Pakistan's deep anguish and concern over the aggravating situation in Gaza, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry told the Foreign Office weekly press briefing that Israeli military offensive has led to the killings of innocent, non-combatant, and unarmed Palestinians, including women and children, in Gaza.
"We are deeply appalled by carnage in Gaza," he said, adding Pakistan has been a firm, consistent and vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause. Ever since Pakistan's independence in 1947, he said our leadership has all along supported the right of the Palestinians to self-determine their destiny and create a Palestinian State. In the present crisis in Gaza, in the wake of Israeli aggression, he pointed out that Pakistan's concern has been voiced at the highest level by the Prime Minister himself who condemned the Israeli aggression and the genocide it is committing and expressed solidarity of the people of Pakistan with their Palestinian brothers.
He said that on Prime Minister's instructions, Pakistan has mobilised international opinion to end the ongoing atrocities in Palestine due to an Israel military offensive. "We have spoken clearly and unambiguously in the United Nations Security Council yesterday and called for an end to hostilities and to revive the peace talks," he said, adding that Pakistan has also called on the Security Council to act by adopting a resolution that would call for an immediate and an unconditional ceasefire, halt Israeli air, ground and naval offensive, and remove Israeli forces from Gaza.
On the humanitarian and human rights aspect, Aizaz said that Pakistan is actively working with Muslim and like-minded countries to secure humanitarian access to those who are badly wounded and stranded in shelters. At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, he said Pakistan on behalf of the OIC spearheaded a resolution, which has since been adopted by the Council. "It is important that the blockade of Gaza has ended, its border opened, and the Palestinian prisoners released," he added.
He further said that Pakistan Deputy Speaker of National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbasi is participating in a conference convened in Iran on the ongoing situation in Gaza. He said that Pakistan's efforts at the diplomatic and international domains, including UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, UN Human Rights Council, the OIC, the NAM, and all other related forum will continue until the ongoing atrocities in Palestine end.
"Pakistan is convinced that violence and bloodshed cannot achieve any solution. For enduring peace, an independent Palestinian State based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al Sharif as its capital, is the right way to achieve a lasting peace and stability in the Middle East," he said. To a question, he said that most important requirement at this stage is to make Israel end its military offensive, declare an immediate and un-conditional ceasefire and pull out of Gaza. "The blockade of Gaza must end to allow access of humanitarian assistance and that is why even in the UN Security Council and in the UN Human Rights Council, we call for humanitarian pauses," he said.
When asked whether Pakistan is ready to send relief goods to Gaza, he said unless the blockade is lifted, we can't transport relief assistance. "So our first effort at this moment is to mobilise international opinion and exert all efforts in this regard and we are exploring all options to extend political and humanitarian support in consultation with Muslim and like-minded countries and playing Pakistan's due role", he added.
About the OIC role, he stated that there is a lot of activity going on and Pakistan is actively engaged in the efforts. "As soon as we succeed in putting a halt to the Israeli military offensive, the door will be open for collective efforts in terms of humanitarian aid," he added.
Asked about Pakistan's stance after Egypt and Jordan declared Hamas as a terrorist organisation, he said that at this stage it is not the real issue and also this is not the time to worry about differences between the Palestinian ranks. As for intra Palestinian issues, he said, this is something that the Palestinian leadership is fully seized of and the Arab group is helping them.
"We will follow whatever consensus they achieve but at this time this is not the real issue," he said, adding the real issue is that in the Israeli military offensive there must end. He said Pakistan believes that the Palestinian issue must be resolved within the framework of the UN Security Council resolutions including its Resolution 242 and others.
To another query, he said that UN is a very important forum and it is at the UNHRC itself where a resolution was adopted with 29 votes in favour one against and 17 abstentions on Gaza the other day. "We should not underestimate the importance of the role that the UN must play," he said, adding that it is our rightful expectation that UN would play a lead role in this regard. He further said that the forums like the OIC and the NAM should play a role and Pakistan is very active in these efforts. "Whatever the efforts of the international community in whatever forum, Pakistan stands with the Palestinians. We would use every forum to put pressure on Israel to withdraw from Gaza," he added.