US President Joe Biden arrived in Israel on a solidarity visit following Hamas attacks, amidst heightened tensions due to a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital.
During his visit, Biden assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States would provide Israel with whatever it needed for self-defense in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Biden also mentioned that 31 Americans were among the more than 1,400 people killed in Israel during the attacks. Netanyahu personally greeted Biden on the tarmac, signaling a strengthened bond between the two leaders.
The city of Tel Aviv, which is only 65 kilometers (40 miles) from the Gaza Strip, has a significant security presence in light of the ongoing conflict.
Foreign Minister Jillani At OIC Extraordinary Session: A Call For Ceasefire And Humanitarian Action In Gaza
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jillani is currently in Jeddah, attending the Extraordinary Session of the OIC Executive Committee. This session focuses on discussing the crisis in Gaza and the humanitarian situation of the besieged civilians there. Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have jointly convened this session.
During the run-up to this Extraordinary Session, the Foreign Minister actively engaged in consultations with his counterparts from OIC member countries. He conducted telephone conversations with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Iran, Türkiye, and the UAE. In these discussions, the Foreign Minister conveyed Pakistan’s deep concerns regarding the ongoing situation in Gaza, resulting from Israeli bombardment and the blockade of the enclave. He will further these consultations with face-to-face meetings in Jeddah.
Regarding the session scheduled with the Executive Committee, the Foreign Minister emphasized Pakistan’s priority for the OIC to collectively demand a ceasefire and the establishment of humanitarian corridors. This initiative aims to ensure the prompt delivery of essential supplies such as food, medicine, and water to the people of Gaza.
Efforts need to focus on a just, comprehensive, and lasting solution for the Palestinian issue in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions. Moreover, it envisions the establishment of a viable, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
