Addressing the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar strongly condemned Israeli aggression and the ongoing atrocities in Gaza. He not only declared Israel’s policies as violations of international law but also presented a clear and unequivocal stance. According to him, Israel’s actions pose a grave threat to peace and security across the entire region.
In his speech, Ishaq Dar particularly criticized the recent plan of the Israeli cabinet, which envisions establishing full military control over Gaza. He termed Prime Minister Netanyahu’s “Greater Israel” narrative as blatant aggression and an attempt at annexation. According to him, this plan not only tramples upon the Palestinians’ right to self-determination but also directly challenges the peace and stability of the Arab world and the wider region.
He stated that Gaza is no longer just a geographical territory but has become a symbol where innocent human lives and international laws are being buried together. He revealed that as a result of Israeli aggression, more than sixty thousand Palestinians have been martyred so far, the majority of whom are women and children. This is not merely a conflict but a humanitarian catastrophe over which the world remains a silent spectator.
According to the Foreign Minister, the Israeli army’s operations are a clear example of collective punishment. Targeting hospitals, schools, aid convoys, and refugee camps is not an accident but part of a deliberate plan. Such actions are blatant violations of international law and tantamount to war crimes, which demand an immediate global response.
While addressing the OIC platform, Ishaq Dar said that mere statements and resolutions are not enough-now is the time for the Muslim world to unite and take practical measures. According to him, the OIC must use its political, diplomatic, and economic power to put pressure on Israel to abandon its expansionist ambitions.
The Pakistani Foreign Minister made it clear in his speech that urgent measures are essential to stop the destruction and humanitarian tragedy in Gaza. According to him, the first step should be an unconditional ceasefire to end further bloodshed. He emphasized that humanitarian aid must reach the Palestinian people without any obstruction. He further stated that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) must be fully supported and its activities restored to meet the basic needs of the victims.
He also stressed that the occupation of Palestinian lands and the construction of new settlements must be stopped immediately. The reconstruction of Gaza and the rehabilitation of its destroyed infrastructure would serve as a new hope for the Palestinian people. At the same time, he emphasized the revival of the political process for the permanent resolution of the Palestinian issue, under which the two-state solution remains the only viable path. This solution envisions the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital.
In his speech, he also drew the attention of the international community and warned that if Israeli war crimes are not held accountable, the very foundation of justice will be shaken. Dar said that international institutions, particularly the United Nations, must ensure the implementation of its resolutions and hold Israel accountable. He urged the European Union and Western countries to abandon their double standards and adopt a justice-based approach towards the Palestinian people.
Ishaq Dar made it clear that if timely and concrete actions are not taken, the “Greater Israel” plan will not only be disastrous for the Palestinians but for the entire region. Its repercussions will manifest in the Middle East through further instability, terrorism, and extremism-posing a serious threat to global peace as well.
The Pakistani Foreign Minister’s statement was, in fact, a clear message that Pakistan remains steadfast in its historical, moral, and diplomatic commitment to the Palestinian cause. According to him, the time has come to move beyond words and take practical measures-not only to deliver justice to the Palestinian people but also to save the world from a larger humanitarian and political crisis.
This speech at the OIC platform was essentially an attempt to awaken the collective conscience of the Muslim world and a clear signal that Pakistan will always stand with Palestine.
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