On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of Israel’s highly provocative and dangerous statements regarding Palestinian land.
He stated that the brazen audacity of the so-called Israeli cabinet in revealing its ominous plan to extend full military control over Gaza, along with the Israeli prime minister’s recent allusion to the creation of a “Greater Israel,” offers insight into Israel’s annexationist and rogue mindset.
In his address at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Jeddah, DPM Dar reiterated Pakistan’s call for an immediate and effective ceasefire. He also emphasized the need to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid, end forced displacement, illegal settlement expansion, and the annexation of Palestinian land. He called for accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the implementation of international and humanitarian laws.
He noted that the meeting was held again as Gaza continues to suffer from systematic, premeditated, and deliberate violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, UN Security Council resolutions, and the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He pointed out that all of this is being committed by Israel with impunity.
“Gaza has become a graveyard for innocent lives as well as for international law, particularly International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Over 60,000 Palestinians—most of them women and children—have been killed in Israel’s brutal military assault,” he added.
He stated that the systematic targeting of hospitals, schools, UN facilities, aid convoys, and refugee camps is not incidental but “wanton acts of collective punishment in full view of the world.” He added, “Gaza is enduring a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe. For nearly two years, it has suffered indiscriminate bombardment, a total blockade, and deliberate deprivation and starvation, while violence and dispossession escalate in the West Bank and Jerusalem.”
Dar further said that the so-called humanitarian system established by the occupying power is a “cruel illusion,” adding that “Famine is rampant. Civilians are being shot while trying to collect food. The hunger crisis in Gaza has reached unprecedented and deeply alarming levels.”
Against this backdrop, he observed that Israel has shown its characteristic insensitivity to international norms, with a series of recent provocative and unwarranted statements that highlight its growing disdain and contempt for the international order.
He stressed that Pakistan strongly condemns these highly escalatory and dangerous statements, which could further worsen the grave humanitarian situation and the suffering of civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in addition to undermining international efforts for peace and stability in the region.
Direct Threat to Arab National Security
Dar said that Pakistan joined the statement issued by the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, along with other countries, to strongly condemn and categorically reject the Israeli announcement, denouncing it as an unacceptable escalation and a brazen attempt to entrench illegal occupation by coercion.
“Pakistan also fully endorsed and joined the statement issued by 31 Arab-Islamic countries, along with the Secretaries-General of the OIC, the League of Arab States, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, condemning the Israeli Prime Minister’s outrageous insinuation about the creation of a so-called ‘Greater Israel’,” he said, adding that this statement constitutes a direct threat to Arab national security, the sovereignty of states, and regional and international peace and security.
As the Prime Minister of Pakistan has unequivocally stated: “The root cause of this ongoing tragedy is Israel’s prolonged, illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. As long as this occupation endures, peace will remain elusive.”
Dar reiterated that Pakistan fully stands by its brotherly Arab states in safeguarding their sovereignty against threats to their independence and territorial integrity. He also expressed Pakistan’s deep appreciation for all states and stakeholders playing a role in advancing peace in Gaza, whose ongoing contributions and steadfast support remain essential for the pursuit of stability and justice for the Palestinian people.
He also welcomed the growing international momentum in support of Palestinian statehood and full membership of the UN, urging states that have yet to recognize the State of Palestine to do so as soon as they can.
‘More Action is Needed’
“But we need to do more. It must now be followed up by coordinated international action to realize the long-overdue settlement, based on a viable, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine, on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” Dar stressed.
The Foreign Minister emphasized that this is a defining moment for the Muslim Ummah, and history will judge them not by their words but by their actions.
“The Palestinian people do not seek statements of sympathy; they need concrete measures to end their suffering and secure their liberation from Israeli occupation. The OIC must rise to this challenge with unity, resolve, and purpose. Another Nakba cannot, and must not, be allowed to happen,” said DPM Dar, as quoted in a press release from the Foreign Office Spokesperson.
He added that the Palestinian question is a litmus test for the credibility of the “rules-based order.” “Failure to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people will embolden impunity and undermine the legitimacy of the very order we all claim to defend and uphold,” he emphasized.
To safeguard the global order and move beyond the perpetual cycle of violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, he reiterated the following seven urgent and essential steps:
- An immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire across Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735.
- Unfettered, sustained, and secure humanitarian access for all civilians in need, and the protection of aid workers, medical teams, and UN personnel.
- Renewed and reinforced international support to UNRWA, which is indispensable to the survival of millions of Palestinians.
- An end to forced displacement, illegal settlement expansion, and annexation of Palestinian land, particularly in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
- Implementation of the Arab and OIC-led reconstruction plan for Gaza, which is a vital framework for post-conflict recovery and rehabilitation.
- The revival of a genuine and time-bound political process to achieve a just, comprehensive, and lasting two-state solution, in accordance with international law and relevant UN and OIC resolutions.
- Accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity, ensuring Israel does not act with impunity. The OIC must champion mechanisms to ensure justice.
“Let me also categorically state that any desecration of Al Aqsa Mosque is an intolerable provocation. The incursions by Israeli officials into Al-Quds Al-Sharif are a deliberate assault on Muslim settlements, a blatant violation of international law, and a direct challenge to the collective conscience of the Muslim Ummah. The OIC must remain vigilant and united in protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites against all attempts at unilateral alteration,” he opined.
‘Palestine is a Priority for Pakistan’
The DPM said that the primary responsibility for ensuring global peace and security lies with the UN Security Council. The Security Council must be urged to impose a cost on Israel if it defies the demands and will of the international community.
“The Council must enact enforcement measures, including the deployment of an international protection force to save the besieged population in Gaza, as was also envisioned by the 20th Extraordinary Session of the CFM held in March earlier this year,” he added.
Dar further stressed: “Palestine is a priority for Pakistan. As a non-permanent member of the UNSC, Pakistan will continue to work with the OIC and Arab partners to mobilize global support for the Palestinian right to self-determination, justice, and peace.” He emphasized that the OIC must act with urgency and determination and cannot remain a bystander. He concluded that it is time for credible action to reaffirm their shared commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
