ISLAMABAD: In an address at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, calling for immediate international action to end the suffering of the Palestinian people.
“The Palestinian people are enduring unimaginable suffering, an unbearable daily toll of human lives,” Dar said. “Hospitals, schools, and markets lie in ruins. The very fabric of society has been torn apart.”
Speaking at a high-level briefing on the Middle East crisis, Dar praised UN Secretary-General António Guterres for his “wisdom and compassion” in advocating for peace, particularly in the face of immense human suffering.
Referring to the latest assessments by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the foreign minister warned that “famine is now a reality in Gaza City,” putting over 500,000 people at risk. He noted that famine conditions were “imminent” in Khan Yunus and Deir al-Balah, exacerbated by relentless military operations.
“Dozens of Palestinians are killed each day. Entire families are displaced, communities torn apart,” Dar said. “Already, 300,000 people have been uprooted, and nearly a million face imminent displacement.”
He also condemned Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank, citing the E1 settlement plan as a “grave violation of international law” and “a blow to the two-state solution.”
Calling on the international community to act decisively, Dar outlined Pakistan’s urgent recommendations:
An immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire to halt the bloodshed.
Full and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, including the immediate lifting of the blockade.
A categorical end to forced displacement, with protection for Palestinians and the right of return for refugees in accordance with international law.
“The world must not remain silent,” Dar urged. “The time for action is upon us.”
Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for Palestinian statehood, Dar said: “We support the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and contiguous Palestinian state on pre-1967 borders, with al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital.”
He welcomed international efforts, including the two-state solution conference jointly led by France and Saudi Arabia, and praised recent recognitions of the State of Palestine by multiple UN member states.
“Pakistan had the honor to be among the first to recognize Palestine in 1988. We stand by our Palestinian brothers and sisters in their just struggle for dignity, justice, and self-determination,” he said.
The address marked Pakistan’s firm stance at a critical moment, as Gaza teeters on the edge of full-scale humanitarian collapse amid escalating violence.