Pakistan Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza, Urges Global Action
NEW YORK: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has described Gaza as a “graveyard for humanity and global conscience”, urging the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the international community to act immediately to halt the ongoing bloodshed.
Speaking at the high-level meeting of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Dar highlighted the catastrophic humanitarian crisis, noting that over 64,000 lives have been lost and more than 100,000 people injured amid relentless attacks.
“Hospitals, schools, and markets lie in ruins. Roads are destroyed, and entire communities have been shattered,” he said. “These are not mere statistics – they are grieving mothers, fathers, children, and elders.”
Dar called for urgent measures, including:
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Immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire
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Full humanitarian access to Gaza
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Lifting of the blockade to allow life-saving aid
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End to forced displacement of Palestinians
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian people, advocating for a sovereign, independent Palestinian state on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital.
At the OIC Committee of Six on Palestine, Dar described the worsening violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, stressing that extremist policies threaten the two-state solution. He urged the OIC to push for:
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Safe and open aid corridors
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Return of seized land and property
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Trials for war crimes and compensation
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Reconstruction led by Arab and Islamic states
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Full international protection for Palestinians
Dar also welcomed recent recognitions of Palestine by multiple countries and highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to advancing peace in the Middle East as a non-permanent UN Security Council member (2025-2026).
“The time for words has passed. The time for action is now,” Dar concluded, emphasizing the urgent need for global intervention to save lives and uphold justice.
