Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned Israeli cabinet's approval of a plan to take illegal and illegitimate control of Gaza City.
In a statement on Friday, Prime Minister said this tantamount to a dangerous escalation in an already catastrophic war against the people of Palestine. The Prime Minister said this expansion of military operations will only worsen the already existing humanitarian crisis and derail any prospect for peace in the region.
He said the root cause of this ongoing tragedy is Israel's prolonged, illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, thus peace will remain elusive as long as this illegal occupation endures. Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan's unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in line with the relevant UN and OIC resolutions.
He urged the international community to intervene urgently to bring an immediate halt to Israel's unwarranted aggression, ensure the protection of innocent civilians, and direly needed delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemns in the strongest possible terms the reported Israeli plan for a complete military takeover of Gaza. This not only represents yet another flagrant violation of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, but also the occupying power’s intention to further expand its ongoing genocidal military campaign. This highly escalatory action will further aggravate the prevailing grave humanitarian situation and suffering of the civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in addition to undermining international efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region.
FO said Pakistan reiterates its call on the international community to ensure an immediate end to Israeli impunity and its genocidal military campaign; take concrete measures for the provision of unimpeded humanitarian supplies to millions of Palestinians in dire need; and hold Israel accountable for its heinous crimes.