ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has issued a strong call for international accountability over what its top leadership has described as “war crimes” and “genocidal actions” committed against the Palestinian people, as the nation marked the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on Saturday.
In separate messages, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, condemning the large-scale destruction and loss of life in Gaza and urging the international community to act decisively.
President Zardari paid tribute to what he called the “valiant” and “resilient” Palestinian people, stating that their struggle had “written a new chapter in history through unparalleled courage and steadfast resolve.”
He said Pakistan’s support for Palestine was rooted in universal principles of “human dignity, fairness, and justice,” and recalled that solidarity with the Palestinian people had been embedded in Pakistan’s political outlook since the 1940 Lahore Resolution.
The President reiterated Pakistan’s consistent condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza, stressing the need for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire,” unhindered humanitarian access, protection of civilians, and “full accountability for the war crimes perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces.”
He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s backing for an independent and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the decades-long Palestinian ordeal as “one of the most devastating tragedies of our time,” noting that more than 70,000 people had lost their lives in recent years amid the destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and vital civilian infrastructure.
He said the scale of violence in Gaza demanded a “credible international accountability process” for the “genocidal actions” committed against the Palestinian population.
The Prime Minister said a renewed diplomatic opening had emerged through the High-Level Conference on the Two-State Solution and the Gaza Peace Plan, stressing that the ceasefire must be maintained and humanitarian assistance allowed without obstruction.
He called for the full restoration of UNRWA operations and urged a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza.
Both leaders urged global attention not only to Gaza but also to the deteriorating situation in the West Bank, where the continued expansion of illegal settlements remains a major barrier to peace.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s long-standing commitment to a just and lasting resolution, President Zardari and Prime Minister Sharif reiterated support for the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and statehood. Pakistan, they said, will continue to extend political, diplomatic, moral, and humanitarian support in pursuit of peace, dignity, and justice for the Palestinian people.
