Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s steadfast and principled support for the Palestinian people\u2019s legitimate right to an independent, viable, and contiguous state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Speaking at the United Nations High-Level International Conference on \u201cThe Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution\u201d in New York on Monday, Dar highlighted the prolonged suffering of Palestinians. \u201cFor over 75 years, the Palestinian people have faced occupation, displacement, and the denial of their fundamental rights, including the inalienable right to self-determination,\u201d he stated. \u201cThis prolonged injustice is not just a political failure but a moral stain and a persistent threat to international peace and security,\u201d he said adding, \u201cToday Gaza is a graveyard of international law and humanitarian principles.\u201d He said the death and destruction inflicted by Israel including the killing of over 58,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children was an unconscionable breach of international humanitarian law, the United Nations resolutions and the binding measures of the International Court of Justice. Blockade of aid, deliberate targetting of civilian infrastructure including refugee camps, hospitals and aid convoys crossed every red line of legality and humanity, he asserted. He said, \u201cThe collective punishment of Palestinians must stop now and we must immediatetly act with purpose.\u201d\u201cIt is high time for credible and enforcible international action on key priorities.\u201d He called for an unconditional, immediate and permanent ceasefire across Gaza and all Palestinian Occupied territories and implementation of the UN resolution 2735. He commended the efforts of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and the United States on the Palestinian issue. He urged full and unimpeded humanitarian access especially of life saving food and medicines to Gaza and the protection of humanitarian teams. He underlined the need for the financial and political support for UNRWA \u2013 a lifeline for millions of Palestinians. He called for international accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity and end of impunity for Israel. He said a genuine and irreversible political process should be undertaken to end the occupation of Palestine. \u201cThe Palestinian question is the test case for the United Nations and the world,\u201d he said adding the conference must deliver actionable commitments including reaffirming the centrality of the two state solution which was the only path to sustainable peace. Outlining the aims of the conference, the Deputy Prime Minister said the international community must demand Israel\u2019s immediate withdrawal from Gaza. Gaza should be reconstructed as envisaged in resolution 2735 and the OIC Arab plan, he said adding the international community should support the OIC proposal to provide international protection to the Palestinian people through the deployment of a protection mechanism besides providing a timeline for building Palestinian institutional capacity and sovereignty. He said the conference participants must reject and halt any attempts to the forced displacement and demographic manipulation in Palestine. The international community must oppose illegal Israeli settlements and annexations especially in West Bank and East Jerusalem, he emphasised.\u201cWe unequivocally condemn the Israeli Parliament\u2019s attempt to assert sovereignty over the Occupied West Bank.\u201d He called on the countries attending the conference to ensure the recognition of the state of Palestine and its full UN membership. \u201cWe welcome France\u2019s decision to recognize the state of Palestine and encourage other countries who have not done so far, to extend recognition and contribute to this global momentum for Palestinian statehood,\u201d he remarked. Ishaq Dar said Pakistan stood ready to extend dedicated technical assistance and capacity building support towards Palestinian brothers and sisters in key sectors such as health, public administration, education and service delivery in accordance with the Palestinian leadership\u2019s decision. \u201cPakistan is also prepared to contribute to the building of institutions including through participation in the OIC Arab plan or any international protection mechanism,\u201d he added. \u201cLet me conclude by saying that justice delayed is justice denied. But when justice is denied for generations, the consequences are even graver. The question of Palestine has impacted the entire region and beyond. We must give hope to the Palestinian people,\u201d he said adding, \u201d The occupation must end, and end now. It is time for freedom, self-determination and statehood, and Palestine\u2019s full membership of the UN. That will be the best guarantee for lasting peace in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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