Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering Palestine support, calling on the United Nations and the wider international community to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and violations of international law.
Speaking at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Dar warned that Israel’s actions in Gaza amounted to collective punishment of the Palestinian people and must not go unchallenged.
He stressed that Pakistan demands an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire across Gaza and the occupied Palestinian Territory. Dar condemned continuous strikes on hospitals, schools, mosques, and civilian infrastructure, describing them as clear breaches of humanitarian law.
“Israel’s declared intent to occupy Gaza City is a deliberate move to erase Palestinian identity and heritage — this must be firmly opposed,” Dar stated. He also called for an end to forced displacement, settlement expansion, and the annexation of Palestinian lands, particularly in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Highlighting the role of UNRWA, Dar urged fresh international assistance to sustain millions of Palestinians facing famine and displacement. He called upon the UN Security Council to deploy an international protection force to defend civilians under siege in Gaza. He insisted that enforcement measures were necessary if Israel continued to defy global appeals.
The foreign minister categorically rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s so-called “Greater Israel” plan. He termed it a dangerous project that threatened both regional and global peace. “As long as illegal occupation persists, peace will remain out of reach,” Dar declared.
Dar affirmed that Palestine support is a top priority for Pakistan. He pledged that as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Islamabad would work closely with OIC and Arab partners to advance Palestine’s right to self-determination, justice, and full UN membership.
Other Muslim leaders echoed Pakistan’s position. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that without an urgent ceasefire, Israel would prolong its occupation and oppression. He said the upcoming UN General Assembly session could be a decisive moment for peace efforts. Dar also noted that the OIC, as the conscience of the Muslim world, must act with a united and strong voice. He further emphasized the need to strengthen Palestinian institutions with financial, technical, and institutional backing.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan rejected Israeli settlements in the West Bank. He reaffirmed the demand for an independent Palestinian state and welcomed the rising international consensus on the two-state solution.
Dar underlined that the OIC must stay united in protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites, especially Al-Aqsa Mosque, from provocations and unilateral changes. He welcomed the growing momentum for Palestine’s full UN membership, saying that lasting peace was only possible through recognition of Palestinian statehood.
