“Level of suffering and brutality in Gaza is unbearable,” says Ambassador Asim Iftikhar
UNITED NATIONS — Pakistan has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to break its silence and take urgent, concrete action to address the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where months of Israeli military operations have led to massive civilian casualties and devastation.
Speaking at a Security Council briefing on the Middle East, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, described the situation as a “humanitarian catastrophe beyond comprehension.”
Citing figures from Gaza health authorities, the ambassador noted that over 56,500 Palestinians — mostly women and children — have been killed since October 7, 2023.
The session was convened under Resolution 2334 (2016), which requires quarterly updates from the UN Secretary-General on Israeli settlement activity. However, discussions extended beyond settlements, focusing also on famine conditions in Gaza and the controversial new aid distribution mechanism established by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — an entity reportedly backed by Israel and the United States.
Criticism of New Aid Mechanism
Ambassador Asim sharply criticized the new system, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law. He argued that the mechanism endangers civilians, forcing them to cross active conflict zones to access food and water.
“Over 500 people have died while trying to obtain humanitarian aid. This is a death trap,” he said.
Rejecting the need for alternative frameworks, the ambassador emphasized that the UN already operates a neutral, independent, and impartial humanitarian delivery system.
“What is needed is not a reinvention of the wheel, but political will — and unhindered access for the UN to do its job,” he stated.
Escalation Beyond Gaza
Ambassador Asim also highlighted that violence is spreading beyond Gaza, pointing to increased military raids, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, and unchecked settler violence in the Occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
He warned that continued inaction by the Security Council not only threatens regional peace but also undermines the credibility of the Council itself.
“The failure to implement its own resolutions carries grave consequences,” he said.
Pakistan’s Calls to the UNSC
Ambassador Asim outlined a series of urgent measures the Security Council must adopt:
- Demand an immediate cessation of Israeli military operations in both Gaza and the West Bank
- Lift the blockade on humanitarian aid and allow safe, unrestricted access for the UN and aid agencies
- Support the Arab League–OIC Plan for recovery and reconstruction in Gaza
- Ensure implementation of Resolution 2334 to preserve the two-state solution
- Initiate a credible political process to establish a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem (Al-Quds Al-Sharif) as its capital
UN Officials Also Sound the Alarm
The briefing opened with remarks by Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific, who echoed Pakistan’s concerns.
“The level of suffering and brutality in Gaza is unbearable,” Khiari said, condemning what he described as collective punishment of Palestinians as “unjustifiable.”
