Key points
- Pakistan demands the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
- Islamabad stresses the Palestinian Authority’s central governance role.
- Pakistan reaffirms backing for pre-1967 Palestinian statehood borders.
- ISF effectiveness depends on a full Israeli military withdrawal.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has voted in favor of a US-backed UN Security Council resolution authorizing an International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, urging that Israeli troops fully withdraw from the territory and reaffirming support for Palestinian self-determination.
The resolution endorsed 13-0, with Russia and China abstaining, approves US President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan and outlines a transitional governance structure for the war-torn enclave. The vote marks a pivotal moment for Gaza’s fragile ceasefire and ongoing efforts to shape the territory’s future after two years of conflict that has killed more than 69,000 Palestinians.
The US resolution authorizes the formation of an International Stabilization Force with a broad mandate to secure borders, provide security, and oversee the demilitarization of Gaza. It also endorses the creation of a transitional “Board of Peace,” to be headed by President Trump. Both the board and the ISF have mandates that expire at the end of 2027.
Arab and Muslim countries that earlier indicated willingness to deploy troops had emphasized that Security Council authorization was a prerequisite for any participation.
Pakistan: Vote Aimed at ‘Stopping the Bloodshed’
On Monday, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Iftikhar Ahmad, said Islamabad supported the resolution with the overriding goal of protecting civilian lives and reinforcing the ceasefire.
“Pakistan has voted in favor of this resolution with the primary objective in the immediate term to stop the bloodshed, to save the lives of innocent Palestinians, including women and children, to maintain the ceasefire, to ensure much-needed large-scale humanitarian relief and to secure the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza,” he told the Council late Monday night.
Ahmad added that the coming weeks must bring “much-needed clarity” on areas the plan does not fully detail, including the political path to Palestinian statehood, the role of the Palestinian Authority (PA), reconstruction responsibilities, and enhanced UN involvement in implementing the ISF’s mandate.
Support for Palestinian Statehood and Governance
Reiterating Pakistan’s longstanding position, Ahmad called for a sovereign, independent, and contiguous Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
He stressed that Gaza’s executive and administrative authority “must remain with the Palestinians,” led by a Palestinian committee, and underscored the PA’s central role in any transition.
“A legitimate Palestinian representation is essential for credible governance and genuine Palestinian ownership,” he said.
The Pakistani envoy noted that the ISF can only operate effectively after Israel fully withdraws its troops from Gaza. He emphasized that “there must be no annexation and no forced displacement under any circumstances.”
Ahmad said Hamas’ disarmament should be achieved through “an agreed political process negotiated under a unified Palestinian national authority,” and urged all parties to uphold the currently fragile ceasefire.
Pakistan, which maintains no diplomatic relations with Israel, has consistently condemned Tel Aviv’s actions in Gaza since October 2023. Islamabad has repeatedly called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for “war crimes” against Palestinians.
