ISLAMABAD: The Senate of Pakistan unanimously adopted a resolution rejecting and condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks regarding a proposed alliance with India and other countries aimed at countering Muslim states.
The resolution voiced alarm over what it termed inflammatory narratives that could undermine the cohesion of the Muslim Ummah.
The move came in response to statements made by Netanyahu during a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tel Aviv. Netanyahu had said Israel “will create an entire system — essentially a kind of hexagon of alliances — around or within the Middle East”.
Modi is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday and address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Netanyahu identified India, Greece, the Greek Cypriot Administration and several unnamed Arab, African and Asian countries as potential members of the proposed grouping.
Senate of Pakistan
He said the objective was “to create an axis of countries that see reality, the challenges, and the goals in the same way, in contrast to the radical axes”, adding: “Both the radical Shia axis, which we have hit very hard, and also the emerging axis — the radical Sunni axis.”
The Senate resolution, tabled by Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan on behalf of all political parties, criticised Israel’s actions and policies, particularly what it described as violations of international law, the United Nations (UN) Charter and relevant UN resolutions.
Lawmakers strongly opposed any effort to alter the legal or historical character of occupied Palestinian territories, including sacred sites, and denounced Israel’s continued expansion of settlements and the forced displacement of Palestinians.
“The Senate takes strong exception to statements that undermine regional stability and international legal norms,” the resolution stated.
The House also dismissed Israel’s reported recognition of Somaliland’s independence as contrary to international norms and reaffirmed Pakistan’s backing for Palestinian self-determination.
In December, Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, prompting widespread criticism from Muslim-majority countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Complete withdrawal
The resolution called for Israel’s immediate and complete withdrawal from occupied territories and underscored the need for enhanced humanitarian aid for Palestinians, particularly those in Gaza. It further urged the global community to ensure accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
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The Senate reiterated its firm support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif designated as its capital, and stressed the importance of swift recovery and reconstruction efforts in Palestine.
Separately, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently said it “would be fine” if Israel assumed control of territory described in a biblical passage as stretching from the Nile River to the Euphrates. He made the remarks during a televised interview that gained significant attention after clips circulated online.
Speaking on The Tucker Carlson Show, Huckabee discussed religious scripture, Israel’s present-day boundaries and the intersection of faith and geopolitics. Carlson noted that the description covered much of the modern Middle East and asked whether Israel therefore had a claim to that land.
Foreign ministers
“So God gave that land — basically the entire Middle East,” Carlson said, asking Huckabee whether Israel therefore had a right to that territory.
“It would be fine if they took it all,” Huckabee replied.
The remarks drew strong condemnation from Pakistan and 13 other countries.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Kuwait, Oman, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine — along with the OIC, the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council — expressed “profound concern”.
They stated that Huckabee’s comments were inconsistent with “the vision put forward by US President Donald Trump, as well as the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict”, which they said sought to prevent further escalation and pave the way for a political resolution that guarantees Palestinians an independent state.
