Pakistan's Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its use of indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force which amounts to war crimes against Palestinians.
Leading Pakistan's delegation in the urgent open-ended Ministerial Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) — co-convened by Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah — Jilani condemned Israeli aggressing and inhumane blockade of the Gaza Strip, the Foreign Office said Wednesday.
The OIC ministerial moot convened as at least 500 Palestinians were martyred in an explosion at a Gaza hospital on Tuesday pushing the overall death toll — due to Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip — near the 3,500 mark as Palestinian health officials said it happened because of an Israeli air attack.
"Israel must bring an immediate end to its campaign of terror with an immediate ceasefire, lifting the siege of Gaza, and rescinding forced evacuation of Palestinians from their homes," he said while underscoring the need for "secure and unrestricted" humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.
Terming the non-implementation of the two-state solution as the reason behind the ongoing conflict, he reiterated Pakistan's support for the Palestinians' right to self-determination and called for "an early establishment of a viable, secure, contiguous and sovereign state of Palestine on the basis of the pre-June 1967 borders and with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital."
The foreign minister also held a meeting with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of the OIC's ministerial meet.
"We stressed the urgent need for cessation of hostilities & protection of civilians in Gaza," Jilani said on his X account.
Separately, Jilani also met with UAE's Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Sabah with both dignitaries agreeing on the "urgent need for a ceasefire, de-escalation, & timely provision of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza".
Accountability court in Islamabad suspends proceedings against President Zardari until he remains in office
Resolutions on global disarmament issues should be deliberated in inclusive manner, says Pakistani envoy in UN
Hot and dry weather likely in most parts of country, heatwave to prevail in Karachi for entire week
Pension reforms will be across the board and will be carried out by taking parliament on board, says law minister
Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry laments Kabul's failure to fulfil its promises on terrorism
Six-member bench of top court, headed by CJP Isa, resumes suo motu hearing of case
