Pakistan to continue to support oppressed Palestinians: foreign minister
Pakistan
Pakistan to continue to support oppressed Palestinians: foreign minister
ISLAMABAD (APP) - Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, while reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for Palestine, on Wednesday said Pakistan always supported the Palestinians and would continue to stand by them in future as well.
Winding up the debate on a motion about the ongoing Israeli aggressive actions and atrocities against innocent Palestinians, the minister demanded an immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian territory and a cessation of human rights violations.
The minister also sought to recognise Palestine as an independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
He said that “it is our religious and national duty to support the Palestinian people against the brutal Israeli occupation”. “We should all show solidarity towards the oppressed people of Palestine.”
The minister said Gaza had been under the occupation of Israel for the past 17 years and the Palestinian people had been facing an unprecedented terror wave since October 7. “Thousands of children and women have been martyred in Gaza in these Israeli attacks.”
Quoting United Nation’s statistics, Jilani said that about 8,500 Palestinians, including 3500 children, had embraced martyrdom in these Israeli attacks so far. Similarly, he added, at least 180,000 houses and 222 schools had been destroyed.
The minister said 35 health clinics and hospitals had also been attacked by Israel. He said that the UN had compared Gaza to a “graveyard” due to the substantial loss of lives.
“Now, Israel has also expanded its attacks beyond Gaza to West Bank,” Jilani observed, adding that Israel’s actions had not only disregarded international principles but also openly breached all international and human rights laws.
The minister expressed hope that Senate’s voice would resonate as a symbol of peace and optimism for the Palestinian people.
Jilani said that just like the Kashmir issue, Palestine was a longstanding issue on the UN agenda, deploring that the resolutions, passed on both the issues, had not yet been implemented.
