ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Jordan’s King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of Jordan on Sunday discussed the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
PM Shehbaz telephoned King Abdullah to extend his best wishes and warm greetings to him and the brotherly people of Jordan on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr.
King Abdullah praised Pakistan’s support for Palestine and lauded its gesture of sending humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.
The Prime Minister expressed his profound gratitude for Jordan’s efforts, under the leadership of King Abdullah, in promoting peace in Gaza, ending the violence, and ensuring the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinians.
Shehbaz Sharif emphasised the strong and lasting bilateral relations between Pakistan and Jordan, particularly in defence cooperation. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening these ties for the mutual benefit of both nations.
The Prime Minister extended a most cordial invitation to King Abdullah to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
King Abdullah reciprocated and extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Jordan.
At least eight Palestinians, including five children, were killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Gaza on Sunday, Gaza’s civil defence agency said, as Hamas confirmed its acceptance of a ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar.
Mahmud Bassal, spokesperson for the agency, said that a pre-dawn air strike hit a house and a tent sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, resulting in the casualties. The attack took place on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, a major Islamic festival.
The war, began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel. According to official Israeli figures, the Hamas attack killed 1,218 people, while 251 people were taken hostage, 58 of whom remain in captivity.
In response, Israel launched a relentless military campaign that, according to the health ministry in Gaza, has killed at least 50,277 Palestinians, the majority of whom were civilians.
Over the past month, Israel has intensified its attacks, with over 900 Palestinians killed since the breakdown of the January ceasefire, the ministry reported.
