ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly criticized the Israeli authorities on Thursday for what it deemed as “indiscriminate and disproportionate” use of force against civilians in Gaza, urging an immediate halt to hostilities.
Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch, the Foreign Office Spokesperson, expressed Pakistan’s deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to what she described as the “inhumane blockade and collective punishment by Israeli forces.”
This condemnation follows Israel’s imposition of a “total siege” to prevent food and fuel from reaching the 2.3 million people in the enclave, many of whom are poor and reliant on aid. The move was in response to a surprise offensive by Hamas on Saturday, resulting in the reported death of 1,200 Israelis.
Baloch asserted that the decision to cut off electricity, fuel, and water supplies was “unjust” and called for its reversal, emphasizing the severe impact it would have on the lives of millions in Gaza.
Highlighting Pakistan’s consistent warnings about the serious consequences of Israel’s actions in recent months, Baloch underscored the urgent need for international intervention. She urged the United Nations to take a proactive role in facilitating a ceasefire to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
“The international community must collaborate for a just, comprehensive, and lasting two-state solution, with a viable, sovereign, and contiguous state of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, and with Al Quds Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital,” she stated. Baloch emphasized that peace in the Middle East would remain elusive without such a solution.
