Pakistan Urges UN Action to Stop Israeli Atrocities in Gaza
UNITED NATIONS / ISLAMABAD —
Pakistan has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take urgent and decisive action to halt Israel’s military aggression in Gaza and the West Bank, warning that the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the region cannot be ignored any longer.
Speaking at a UNSC briefing on the Middle East, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, urged the 15-member Council to break its silence. The UN Security Council cannot remain a bystander. A permanent ceasefire must be established without delay, he asserted.
The ambassador emphasized that the blockade on humanitarian aid must be lifted fully and immediately, and that the UN and humanitarian organizations must be granted safe, unrestricted access to deliver critical assistance.
The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza defies comprehension. Over 56,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since October 7, 2023, he said, citing figures from local health authorities.
The UNSC meeting was convened under Resolution 2334, which demands an end to Israel’s illegal settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. However, the discussion expanded to address the dire humanitarian crisis, risk of famine, and the controversial aid distribution mechanism led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a body backed by Israel and the U.S.
Ambassador Asim condemned this parallel mechanism, calling it a death trap that forces starving civilians to cross active war zones in search of food and water, putting lives at grave risk. More than 500 people have died just trying to access aid, he revealed.
He further criticized Israel for intensifying military raids, settler violence, and illegal settlements in the West Bank — in blatant violation of international law.
The Council’s inability to enforce its own resolutions undermines its authority and credibility, and threatens global peace and security, Asim added.
Pakistan’s Key Demands to the UNSC:
- Immediate halt to all Israeli military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
- Unconditional removal of the blockade on humanitarian aid.
- Safe, unhindered access for the UN and relief agencies.
- Support for the Arab League–OIC Plan for Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction.
- Full implementation of UNSC Resolution 2334 to preserve the two-state solution.
- Launch of a credible and irreversible political process based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the Palestinian capital.
The UNSC briefing also featured Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, who described the situation in Gaza as unbearable. He emphasized that the collective punishment of the Palestinian people is unjustifiable.
