On Thursday, the Pakistani government and its coalition partners decided to observe a nationwide day of mourning on Friday in solidarity with Palestinians and to condemn Israeli actions in Palestine.
In a joint declaration following a consultative meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, it was announced that after Friday prayers, a funeral prayer in absentia would be held across the country for Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of Hamas’ Political Bureau, who was assassinated in Tehran on Wednesday.
The meeting addressed the deteriorating situation in Palestine and resulted in a decision to present a resolution in Parliament to express full solidarity with Palestine. The participants expressed their deep sorrow and outrage over the ongoing Israeli actions in Palestine, condemning the brutality and showing support for the Palestinian people.
Tensions in the Middle East escalated with the assassination of Haniyeh, prompting Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah to warn of retaliation against Israel. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel was prepared for any aggression.
Pakistani leaders, while expressing their condolences for Haniyeh, viewed the assassination as a deliberate attempt to undermine efforts to halt the atrocities against Palestinians and achieve regional peace. They characterized the situation as a “tragedy” for the Muslim world and called for immediate humanitarian aid access for Palestinians.
Pakistan pledged to continue delivering relief goods to Palestine and provide medical assistance, including bringing injured Palestinians to Pakistan for treatment. Additionally, Palestinian medical students will be offered admission to Pakistani medical colleges on an aid basis.
The participants criticized the international community for its lack of action and called for a definitive stance to end the violence and hold Israel accountable for war crimes. They urged the United Nations and other global bodies to break their silence and address the “genocide” of Palestinians.
