DOHA: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has said that Israel must be held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He said that Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the illegal and unprovoked Israeli aggression against the brotherly state of Qatar. This reckless and provocative attack constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar contrary to the fundamental principles of international law including the UN Charter in particular its Article 2(4) prohibiting the threat or use of force. As the Prime Minister of Pakistan has stated this act of aggression by Israel is unjustified and constitutes a most dangerous provocation that could imperil regional peace and stability.
This was stated by Ishaq Dar while addressing the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting of the Emergency Arab Islamic Summit in Doha on Sunday.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary General of the OIC and Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of League of Arab States were present on the occasion.
Ishaq Dar said, “We are gathering again this morning to discuss yet another illegal Israeli assault on a brotherly sovereign state. It was only last month that we met in Jeddah for an extraordinary meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss Israeli aggression in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The mere frequency of our gatherings is enough to underline how Israel has become a persistent irritant and a danger to world peace and security.”
He said that the Israeli strike against a sovereign state that has been actively partaking in the ongoing mediation efforts along with the US and Egypt to reach a ceasefire in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is unwarranted, unjustified and appalling. It also exposes Israel’s rogue mindset that disregards every tenet of global law and norms. Israel’s actions reek of an unabashed aggressor that is hell bent on achieving its heinous objectives and is unbothered if that pursuit topples the entire edifice of international order. No state is safe from such an unhinged entity that defies all precepts of civilized behavior.
He said that Israel’s unspeakable atrocities against the Palestinians over the last almost two years are another testament to the limits it can breach in implementing its evil designs. No measure of global outcry scrutiny protest or accountability could be enough to rein in the Israeli barbarity in Gaza. Israel’s increasing illegal incursions in the regional countries without any remorse or fear of liability have set a dangerous trend which must be put to a decisive stop. The Arab Islamic world must hold hands in thrusting a united front to the brazen Israeli hostility in the region.
Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan expresses its complete solidarity with the government and people of Qatar and fully supports their inalienable right to take all necessary measures in accordance with the United Nations Charter to defend their sovereignty, territorial integrity and the safety of all persons within their territory. Pakistan commends Qatar’s important and constructive role in facilitating mediation efforts including for a ceasefire which has been widely and consistently appreciated by the world together with the role of Egypt and the US.
“We recognise Qatar’s tireless and principled engagement with all the parties often under the most challenging circumstances to keep the channels of dialogue open and advance prospects of peace. Targeting Qatar is thus not only an attack on a sovereign state but also an attack on diplomacy and mediation itself,” he said.
Ishaq Dar said that as a member of the UNSC along with Algeria and Somalia, Pakistan helped convene the emergency meeting of the UNSC to formally bring this matter before the Security Council. “We have also called on the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on behalf of the OIC together with our Arab partners to convene an urgent debate so that the Council can hold Israel accountable for its brazen attack on Doha aimed at undermining ongoing ceasefire efforts. We are also honored to co-sponsor and co-convener of the Arab Islamic Summit along with Qatar and other brotherly Islamic states to chart a response against Israel’s aggravating belligerence,” Dar said.
Ishaq Dar said that as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, Pakistan will continue to work with the OIC and Arab partners to mobilise global support for Israel’s accountability for its rogue actions in the Middle East and for the Palestinian right to self-determination, justice and peace. The primary responsibility for ensuring global peace and security lies with the UN Security Council. The Security Council must be urged to impose a cost on Israel if it defies the demands and the will of the international community. The Council must enact enforcement measures including the deployment of an international protection force to save the besieged population in Gaza.
He said that the question of Israeli accountability is a test for the credibility of the global system. The Arab Islamic world must rise to this challenge with unity, resolve and purpose. To safeguard the global order, Pakistan reiterates the following urgent and essential steps
First, Israel must be held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It should not be allowed to get away with attacking Islamic countries and killing people with impunity
Second, creation of an Arab-Islamic task force to monitor the Israeli designs in the region and adopt effective deterrent and offensive measures in a synchronised manner to ward off Israeli expansionist designs
Third, in line with the call made by the OIC, we must pursue the suspension of Israel’s membership of the United Nations. Following up on this step would be a clear message of seriousness by the Ummah
Fourth, member states should actively consider implementing additional punitive measures against Israel as a means to reinforce accountability and deter further violations of international law
Fifth, the UN Security Council must urgently demand Israel under Chapter VII of the UN Charter for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire, release of hostages and exchange of Palestinian prisoners
Sixth, unfettered, sustained and secure humanitarian access to all civilians in need and the protection of aid workers, medical teams and UN personnel in the OPT
Seventh, the revival of a genuine and time-bound political process to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting two state solution in accordance with international law and relevant UN and OIC resolutions.
Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to the cause of global peace. As an elected member of the UN Security Council, Pakistan will continue to work with the OIC and Arab partners to mobilise global support towards this end.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Sunday arrived in Doha to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the Ministerial meeting, ahead of the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit on Israel’s attack against the State of Qatar.
Upon arrival, the DPM/FM was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar, Pakistan’s PR to OIC and senior officials of the Qatari government, Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release.
On the sidelines of the preparatory Foreign Ministers’ meeting for the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met his Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty, Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamad Hasan, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Uzbekistan’s FM Bakhtiyor Saidov and OIC Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha.
They condemned illegal Israeli strikes on Qatar and other Muslim nations, terming them blatant violations of sovereignty and international law. Both reaffirmed their unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and stressed the urgent need for unity across the Muslim Ummah.