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The federal government is hosting a multi-party conference (MPC) for the “unanimous condemnation” of Israel’s atrocities in the Middle East and to observe a year’s passage since the outbreak of catastrophic violence in the Gaza Strip that has killed over 41,900 Palestinians.
The fighting in Gaza was triggered when Hamas fighters entered southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 as hostages, according to Israeli tallies. More than 100 hostages remain held by Hamas.
Israel’s subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to the territory’s health ministry, and triggered global condemnation, calls for ceasefire and legal proceedings against Israel in the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
On Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave his assurance during a meeting with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman that the government would host a MPC to condemn the Israeli genocide in the Middle East.
The MPC is being held at the President’s House in Islamabad and is being attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, PM Shehbaz, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, federal cabinet ministers and senior political leaders, including PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Hafiz Naeem, among others.
However, no PTI leaders were in attendance.
President Zardari expressed deep concerns over the growing Israeli adventurism in the region and escalation of tension, calling for the international community’s role to take swift action to restore peace and prevent conflict from spilling over.
The president said that during the last year, the Israeli occupation forces had killed over 41,800 Palestinians, besides destroying infrastructure.
He pointed out that Israel had even expanded its relentless attacks to target Lebanon, Syria and Yemen and endangered regional and global peace and security.
He said that regrettably, the international community had failed to stop Israel from committing genocide against the Palestinian population, specifically in Gaza, and also questioned the prevailing situation of impunity.
President Zardari said that it was crucial for the international community to take swift action to de-escalate the tension and prevent further loss of lives and conflict from spilling over to other parts of the region.
He also emphasised the UN Security Council (UNSC) to fulfil its responsibility of establishing peace and security in Palestine and Lebanon and reiterated Pakistan’s decades-old stance for a two-state solution by establishing an independent Palestine state on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.
President Zardari stressed that peace in the Middle East could not be achieved without resolving the Palestine issue in accordance with the UNSC resolutions.
Calling for a total withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestine, he also asked the UNSC to restrain Israel from violation of international laws to restore peace in the Middle East.
The president reiterated Pakistan’s position of total withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Arab territories, including Jerusalem and restoring the inalienable right of Palestinian people to self-determination.
More to follow.
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