ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday called for immediate and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, warning that the territory remains trapped in a severe humanitarian crisis despite recent diplomatic efforts, a statement from Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations said.
Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Gaza, Pakistan’s permanent representative, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said progress after the endorsement of the Comprehensive Plan and adoption of Resolution 2803 has not eased conditions on the ground.
He thanked UN Under‑Secretary‑General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher for his briefing and urged the Security Council to continue close monitoring.
Ambassador Ahmad warned that ceasefire violations persist and civilians face widespread killing, displacement and deprivation. He said more than 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced and only half of hospitals remain partially functional.
Daily meal distributions have dropped by over 50%, leaving hundreds of thousands at risk of acute hunger, he added. Overcrowding, poor sanitation and limited healthcare, the envoy said, increase the threat of disease outbreaks, especially among children.
The ambassador accused Israel of arbitrarily restricting and delaying humanitarian assistance, calling such measures violations of international law and the obligations of an occupying power.
He insisted humanitarian access must not be used as a political tool and urged the immediate opening of all border crossings, including Rafah, to allow aid, commercial supplies and medical evacuations.
Pakistan also called for lifting the Gaza blockade, warning it amounts to collective punishment of more than two million Palestinians, and demanded an end to opaque restrictions on so‑called “dual‑use” items needed for relief operations.
While welcoming the Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund and pledged reconstruction finance, Ambassador Ahmad warned the UN’s 2026 Flash Appeal remains severely underfunded and urged the international community to close the gap.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s long‑standing position, he said a durable solution requires an end to occupation and the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre‑1967 borders with Al‑Quds Al‑Sharif as its capital.
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