ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday condemned the Israeli cabinet’s approval of a plan to assume control of Gaza City, warning it marks a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict and threatens any prospects for peace in the region.
“We strongly condemn the Israeli cabinet’s approval of a plan to take illegal and illegitimate control of Gaza City. This tantamounts to a dangerous escalation in an already catastrophic war against the people of Palestine,” he wrote on X.
Israel’s security cabinet approved on August 8 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to deploy military forces to occupy Gaza City, the first step toward Netanyahu’s previous statements on occupying all of Gaza.
A statement said the Israeli Defence Forces would prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones.
We strongly condemn the Israeli cabinet’s approval of a plan to take illegal and illegitimate control of Gaza City. This tantamounts to a dangerous escalation in an already catastrophic war against the people of Palestine.
This expansion of military operations will only worsen…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 8, 2025
The Prime Minister said this expansion of military operations will only worsen the already existing humanitarian crisis and derail any prospect for peace in the region.
“We must not lose sight of the root cause of this ongoing tragedy: that is, Israel’s prolonged, illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. As long as this occupation endures, peace will remain elusive,” he said.
He said Pakistan reiterates its unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in line with relevant UN and OIC resolutions.
“We call upon the international community to intervene urgently to bring an immediate halt to Israel’s unwarranted aggression, ensure the protection of innocent civilians, and ensure the direly needed delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” the PM added.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman in a statement also condemned the Israeli plan for a complete military takeover of Gaza.
“This not only represents yet another flagrant violation of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, but also the occupying power’s intention to further expand its ongoing genocidal military campaign,” he said.
The spokesman termed the decision as highly escalatory, which will further aggravate the prevailing grave humanitarian situation and suffering of the civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in addition to undermining international efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region.
“Pakistan reiterates its call on the international community to ensure an immediate end to Israeli impunity and its genocidal military campaign; take concrete measures for the provision of unimpeded humanitarian supplies to millions of Palestinians in dire need; and hold Israel accountable for its heinous crimes”, the spokesman said.
