- DPM stresses prompt actions to fulfill moral and legal duty to stand with Palestinians
- Condemns Israel’s strikes against brotherly countries, calling it blatant violation of UN Charter and international law
RIYADH: Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Sunday expressed the hope that the new US administration following last week’s elections would lend its weight to reinvigorate efforts for peace in the Middle East by the UN resolutions and international law, as a priority.
Addressing the Council of Foreign Ministers’ Preparatory Meeting for the Second Arab-Islamic Summit on the Situation in the Middle East, the deputy prime minister highlighted that mere condemnation of Israeli actions will not be enough. He also stressed acting now to fulfill the moral and legal duty to stand with the people of Palestine for their rights and demand justice for them.
“The whole Muslim Ummah is looking at us today. We need to demonstrate unwavering political will and complete unity and take concrete steps to effectively address the situation at hand.”
He stressed securing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and the region to ensure unfettered humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians. “Israel must be stopped from demonization UNRWA,” he asserted, urging the UNGA to ensure UNRWA continues its vital operations.
Dar also called for pursuing full implementation of the UNGA resolution ES-10/24, supporting Palestine’s admission as a full member of the UN and exploring legal avenues to hold Israel accountable for war crimes, imposing an immediate arms embargo on Israel, undertaking a comprehensive review of Israel’s membership of the UN, and nominating a Joint Arab-Islamic Special Envoy on the Middle East as a focal point to coordinate progress on the implementation of the Resolutions adopted by the Joint-Arab-Islamic Summits.
He said the first Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh in November last year had adopted far-reaching decisions to end the war in Gaza. However, he said unfortunately, after more than a year, the situation in the Middle East had become worse.
“Israel has been contravening all international norms and laws with impunity. The Israeli occupying forces continue to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity against the innocent Palestinians,” he added.
He said during the last year death toll of innocent Palestinians had crossed 44,000, while more than a hundred thousand had been injured and millions displaced.
Furthermore, he said international humanitarian access to Palestinians had been further restricted.
“The reckless pursuit of a so-called greater Israel by encroaching upon the sovereignty of states beyond Palestine is fraught with serious implications for regional peace and stability.”
He said Pakistan strongly condemned Israel’s military strikes against these brotherly countries which were a blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law;
He said the UN Security Council remained ineffective as the calls of the UN General Assembly, the OIC, and the International Court of Justice for a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid, and civilian protection remained utterly disregarded.
Congratulating the Saudi initiative for holding the inaugural meeting of the “Global Alliance for Implementation of a Two-State Solution” last month, the deputy prime minister assured that Pakistan will abide by its commitment to and engagement with the Alliance for the achievement of its objectives. “Pakistan looks forward to actively contributing to the different thematic working groups of the Global Alliance.”
He also acknowledged and commended the sincere efforts of the Ministerial Committee constituted after the first Arab-Islamic Summit last November for the resolution of this intractable issue confronting the Muslim Ummah.
He said Pakistan had always been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause. “Since October last year, Pakistan has sent 12 consignments comprising humanitarian assistance for our Palestinian brethren. Besides, Palestinian students are being provided additional scholarships at various Pakistani educational facilities. Pakistan is also taking Palestinian medical students to complete their education in Pakistan’s medical institutions,” he added.
He said Pakistan would continue to champion the rights of its Palestinian brethren until the creation of a viable, contiguous, and sovereign state of Palestine based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
The deputy PM on the occasion extended his appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud bin Abdullah for convening this crucial meeting for the preparation of the Summit tomorrow.
He also commend the efforts of the Secretary General of the OIC and the Arab League for their unwavering dedication to the Palestinian cause.
