ISLAMABAD: Pakistan organized an all-party conference to express solidarity with the Palestinians and commemorate the first anniversary of the Gaza war.
The conference, jointly hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari at the President House, strongly condemned Israeli aggression in Gaza and called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The joint declaration supported the OIC and Arab League’s efforts for a ceasefire and peace in the region.
During the conference, political leaders, including the President and Prime Minister, addressed the attendees.
We Don’t Recognize Israel as a State: JI
Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman voiced strong opposition to the two-state solution for the Gaza-Israel conflict, arguing that advocating for it undermines a principled stance. “We do not even consider Israel a state,” he asserted, emphasizing that discussions should focus solely on Palestinian independence.
Naeem highlighted the devastation in Gaza, where he claimed 80-90% of infrastructure has been destroyed, alleging that the U.S. supplies 70-80% of arms to Israel.
He called for the exposure of those involved in “killing humanity” and rejected Israeli settlements in Gaza. He urged the government to exclude the two-state solution from the conference’s joint declaration and instead advocate for Palestine’s freedom.
JUI-F Rejects Two-State Solution
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also expressed his party’s rejection of the two-state solution during the all-party conference. He stated that Hamas’s attack on Israel last year altered the dynamics of the Palestinian issue and emphasized that there is no justification for Jewish settlements in the region.
Nawaz Sharif Calls for Action on Gaza and IIOJK
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif urged the political leadership to take decisive action regarding Gaza and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Addressing the conference, he condemned Israel’s continued brutalities in Palestine and criticized the international community’s silence over the situation.
MQM-P Proposes Education Sponsorship for Palestinian Children
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) called on the federal government to sponsor the education of Palestinian children in public and private universities. MQM-P Convener Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, speaking at the conference, urged the government to take practical steps in support of Palestinians, stressing the need for diplomatic efforts alongside protests.
President Zardari Demands UNSC Intervention
Earlier in his opening remarks, President Asif Ali Zardari condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, Palestine, and Lebanon, asserting that they threaten global stability. He stated that Israel’s actions amount to genocide, resulting in the deaths of over 41,000 Palestinians, and called for the United Nations Security Council’s intervention to end Israeli aggression.
Zardari pledged to continue highlighting human rights violations by Tel Aviv at every available forum.
