Pakistan has strongly opposed the Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip, categorizing the severe humanitarian consequences as akin to genocide. During a press briefing at the Foreign Office in Islamabad, Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbasi Jillani explicitly condemned the continuous Israeli bombardment and the stringent blockade of Gaza.
Jillani highlighted the dire circumstances faced by the inhabitants, including the lack of access to water, medical facilities, and food, all contributing to a substantial humanitarian crisis. Referring to the ongoing conflict and the disproportionate number of civilian casualties, reported to be over 2,200, he termed Israel’s actions a genocide against the Palestinians. The minister called on Israel to abide by international laws and United Nations resolutions, emphasizing the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and denouncing any equivalence between the Palestinian struggle and Israeli aggression.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s stance, demanding the recognition of Palestinian territories as an independent state per the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, by UN resolutions on a two-state solution. Furthermore, he disclosed that Pakistan is actively engaging with international bodies and aid agencies to expedite humanitarian assistance to the beleaguered residents of Gaza.
Read: Israel Urges Over 1 Million Gaza Civilians to Relocate Ahead of Expected Invasion
Impending Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The situation in Gaza is teetering on the brink of a humanitarian disaster, with Israeli forces mobilizing for a ground assault. This development followed Israel’s directive ordering approximately 1.1 million northern Gazans to evacuate amidst warnings of an impending incursion aimed at Hamas operatives based in Gaza City.
Humanitarian organizations are apprehensive, foreseeing a calamitous scenario as the blockade has already severely restricted essential supplies, including food, water, and medical necessities. The potential for urban warfare and close-quarter combat in one of the world’s most densely populated regions poses a grave threat to civilian lives.
