Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called on the UN Security Council to ensure an immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, urging urgent international action to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.
Addressing the UNSC’s Open Debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, Dar emphasized the need to restore humanitarian aid routes, prevent famine in Gaza, and ensure the safe delivery of life-saving food and medical assistance. He warned that the ongoing crisis in Gaza has not only claimed tens of thousands of innocent lives, primarily women and children, but also eroded the principles of international law and human dignity.
While highlighting UN figures, he noted that over a third of Gaza’s population is facing extreme hunger, with many going days without food, an alarming indicator of catastrophic food insecurity.
Dar reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, advocating for the establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. He underscored that a two-state solution, endorsed by the UN, OIC, and Arab Peace Initiative, remains the only pathway to sustainable peace in the Middle East.
He condemned the forced displacement of Palestinians, expansion of illegal settlements, and the annexation of occupied territories in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, actions he said undermine peace and violate international law.
The Deputy Prime Minister also stressed the need for reinforced support to UNRWA, which remains vital to the survival of millions of Palestinian refugees. He welcomed OIC and Arab-led post-conflict reconstruction initiatives as essential to rebuilding Gaza and restoring dignity to its people.
Beyond Palestine, Dar expressed Pakistan’s support for stabilizing Syria through a comprehensive political process, urging Israel to withdraw from the Syrian Golan Heights and separation zone, as outlined in UN resolutions. He also called for upholding Resolution 1701 in Lebanon and respecting the country’s sovereignty.
On Yemen, he voiced support for the UN-led peace process and acknowledged the constructive roles played by Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Dar concluded by calling for a revival of a time-bound political process to achieve a just and lasting peace, emphasizing that the international community must deliver long-denied justice, freedom, and dignity to the Palestinian people.
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