ISLAMABAD: In a powerful declaration, an All Parties Conference held in Islamabad condemned Israel’s ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people and called for a unified response from the international Muslim community.
The political leadership, at the APC—convened at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the President House—called for a unified platform of Islamic countries to confront Israel’s actions against Palestinians.
The conference, attended by various political factions, underscored the urgent need for action in light of the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in the region.
Participants expressed deep concern over the continuous brutality and alleged genocide perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians. They emphasized that despite repeated calls for a ceasefire from international bodies such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the UN General Assembly, and the UN Security Council, Israel’s actions continue unabated.
The conference highlighted the alarming statistics of the conflict, noting that over 42,000 lives have been lost—mostly women and children—with more than 96,000 injured. The widespread destruction and displacement of the population in Gaza were described as catastrophic. The participants condemned Israeli attacks on essential infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and refugee camps, as severe violations of international humanitarian law.
Key resolutions from the conference included:
- Immediate Ceasefire: The conference called for an unconditional ceasefire and the lifting of the siege on Gaza, demanding accountability for Israel’s violations of international law.
- Expresses its unequivocal condemnation in the strongest possible terms of Israel’s genocidal campaign, which has resulted in the loss of over 42,000 lives, mostly women and children, as well as grievous injuries to over 96,000 Palestinians, in addition to the widespread destruction and displacement of nearly the entire population of Gaza.
- Condemns Israeli attacks against schools, hospitals, places of worship, shelters, and refugee camps, as well as the killing of aid workers and journalists in unprecedented numbers, in complete violation of international humanitarian law.
- Right to Self-Determination: Declares unwavering support for the realization of the right to self-determination and other fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, as well as for the establishment of a viable, secure, contiguous, and sovereign State of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, as well as for the State of Palestine’s full UN membership.
- Implementation of the UNGA Resolution: Calls for full implementation of the UN General Assembly resolution ES-10/24 of 18 September 2024, which, inter alia, demands an end to Israeli occupation; the provisional measures by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that call for preventing Israel from committing further acts of genocide against the Palestinian people; as well as ICJ’s Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024 that reaffirms the illegality of the Israeli occupation.
- International Intervention: Participants urged the global community to take urgent measures to prevent further Israeli aggression, particularly against neighboring Lebanon and other regional nations.
- Support for OIC Efforts: The conference expressed full backing for ongoing political and diplomatic initiatives by the OIC and other organizations aimed at addressing the Palestinian situation and ensuring regional stability.
- Emergency Summit: A call was made for the OIC to convene an emergency summit to discuss the implications of Israeli aggression on regional peace and security, emphasizing the importance of unity within the Islamic Ummah.
- Humanitarian Aid: Participants acknowledged the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Refugees (UNRWA) in providing relief to Palestinians and pledged continued humanitarian support, including educational and medical assistance.
- Solidarity with Palestine and Kashmir: The conference reaffirmed unwavering support for the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and emphasized similar support for the people of Kashmir, calling for a resolution to the long-standing dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
- Day of Solidarity: The resolution declared November 29, 2024, as a Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, urging all to observe the day with special fervor.
The APC held at the President House attended chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, and attended by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and other religious political leadership.
