Key points
- Pakistan welcomes France’s decision to recognise the state of Palestine: Ishaq Dar
- Says today Gaza is a graveyard of international law and humanitarian principles
- Calls for international accountability for war crimes in Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering and principled support for the Palestinian peoples’ inalienable right to a viable, independent and contiguous state of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
Pakistani state-run news agency, the APP reported that Ishaq Dar was speaking at the United Nations High-Level International Conference on “The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution” in New York.
Right to self-determination
He said, “For over 75 years the Palestinian people have endured occupation, displacement and denial of their fundamental rights including their inalienable right to self-determination.”
“This prolonged injustice is not just a political failure but a moral stain and a persistent threat to international peace and security,” he said adding, “Today Gaza is a graveyard of international law and humanitarian principles.”
He called on the countries attending the conference to ensure the recognition of the state of Palestine and its full UN membership. “We welcome France’s decision to recognize the state of Palestine and encourage other countries who have not done so far, to extend recognition and contribute to this global momentum for Palestinian statehood,” he remarked.
He said the death and destruction inflicted by Israel including the killing of over 58,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children was an unconscionable breach of international humanitarian law, the United Nations (UN) resolutions and the binding measures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Permanent ceasefire
Blockade of aid, deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure including refugee camps, hospitals and aid convoys crossed every red line of legality and humanity, Dar asserted.
He said, “The collective punishment of Palestinians must stop now and we must immediately act with purpose.”
“It is high time for credible and enforceable international action on key priorities.”
He called for an unconditional, immediate and permanent ceasefire across Gaza and all Palestinian Occupied territories and implementation of the UN resolution 2735.
Humanitarian access
He commended the efforts of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and the United States on the Palestinian issue, according to APP.
Ishaq Dar urged full and unimpeded humanitarian access especially of life saving food and medicines to Gaza and the protection of humanitarian teams.
He underlined the need for the financial and political support for UNRWA – a lifeline for millions of Palestinians.
He called for international accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity and end of impunity for Israel.
He said a genuine and irreversible political process should be undertaken to end the occupation of Palestine.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan stood ready to extend dedicated technical assistance and capacity building support towards Palestinian brothers and sisters in key sectors such as health, public administration, education and service delivery in accordance with the Palestinian leadership’s decision.
