Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has delivered a powerful appeal to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take immediate action to end the ongoing violence in Gaza. He described the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe that has turned Gaza into a graveyard for humanity and global conscience.
Speaking during a high-level session on the Middle East, Dar emphasized that Gaza’s destruction has gone far beyond numbers. Hospitals, schools, and marketplaces have been reduced to rubble, with over 64,000 lives lost and more than 100,000 wounded. He reminded the international community that behind these figures were grieving families, suffering children, and elderly victims of relentless bombings.
“The time for words has passed. The time for action is now,” Dar stressed, urging the UNSC to push for decisive steps. He warned that famine in Gaza City had already become a grim reality, putting half a million people at immediate risk. He also highlighted that 300,000 Palestinians had been uprooted and nearly one million more faced imminent displacement.
Dar painted a stark picture of the suffering, describing fighter jets, tank fire, collapsing buildings, and hostages caught in the violence. He demanded an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, full humanitarian access, and the lifting of the blockade to allow life-saving aid. He also called for a categorical end to forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support, Dar underscored that lasting peace can only be achieved through the creation of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state along pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He welcomed recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood by various countries and praised international initiatives, including efforts by France and Saudi Arabia to revive the two-state solution.
During his address to the OIC Committee of Six on Palestine, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to advancing peace in the Middle East, particularly as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for 2025–2026. He condemned escalating settler violence and military raids in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, pointing out that extremist Israeli leadership is attempting to bury the two-state solution.
“This is a defining moment for the Middle East and the Muslim world,” Dar said, urging that the momentum created by the recent two-state solution conference must be preserved.
He outlined Pakistan’s proposals for the OIC, which included:
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An immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
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Safe humanitarian corridors and strong support for UNRWA.
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A halt to forced displacement and illegal settlements.
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Restoration of land and property seized since 1967.
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The right of return for Palestinian refugees.
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War crimes accountability and compensation for damages.
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Full compliance with International Court of Justice rulings.
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A Gaza rebuilding initiative led by Arab and Islamic states.
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Deployment of an international protection force for Palestinians.
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Recognition of Palestine as a fully independent state on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Dar emphasized that the world cannot afford further delay, stressing that concrete action by the UNSC, OIC, and international community is essential to secure justice, dignity, and self-determination for the Palestinian people.
