As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, a senior Pakistani diplomat has urged the UN Security Council to take immediate action to halt Israel\u2019s \u201cbrutal and illegal war\u201d and end the immense suffering of the Palestinian people, particularly children in the besieged territory. Addressing a session of the 15-member Council on Tuesday, Pakistan\u2019s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the world is witnessing a tragedy unfold in real time. \u201cThe global community watches in disbelief,\u201d he said, adding that Israel\u2019s military campaign has overwhelmingly targeted civilians, leaving devastation in its wake. \u201cNothing can justify the indiscriminate killings, starvation of an entire population, and collective punishment of a besieged people.\u201d Ambassador Asim stressed that such actions are not only morally indefensible but also represent serious violations of international law, including the Geneva Conventions, and defy binding orders issued by the International Court of Justice. While calling for an end to the war, he also urged the immediate release of Israeli hostages, stating that their detention violates international law. He referenced the Council\u2019s testimony from Ilay David, whose brother Eyvatar David is among 48 hostages still held in Gaza, expressing hope for their safe return. Highlighting the scale of the destruction, the ambassador stated that over 60,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, including at least 18,500 children. \u201cPalestinian children have been killed at a rate of more than one per hour since the war began,\u201d he added. He also noted that roughly 9,500 Palestinians, including many women and children, remain imprisoned \u2014 about one-third without formal charges or trial. Ambassador Asim drew attention to the devastating impact of the ongoing Israeli blockade, reporting that at least 175 Palestinians, including 93 children, have died from starvation. The delivery of aid has also become increasingly dangerous, with more than 1,200 aid-related deaths recorded since May. \u201cThis war on civilians must stop,\u201d he stressed. Pakistan, he said, calls for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the release of all hostages, and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid. He also criticized Israel\u2019s unilateral termination of a ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States \u2014 which had led to the release of 33 hostages \u2014 saying that further progress was blocked as a result. Ambassador Asim urged the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which offers a practical roadmap for ending hostilities and delivering urgently needed aid. He emphasized that lasting peace in the region requires addressing the root cause of the conflict \u2014 Israel\u2019s prolonged and illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. \u201cAs long as this occupation continues, peace will remain out of reach,\u201d he said. He reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s support for a two-state solution, calling for the establishment of a sovereign, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital. Earlier in the meeting, UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca also stressed the need for a political solution to the crisis in Gaza that can pave the way for lasting peace. Briefing the Council at a session requested by Israel to discuss the situation of remaining hostages, Jenca emphasized that all detainees must be treated with dignity and allowed visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Describing the situation in Gaza as \u201chorrific and unbearable,\u201d he said Palestinians are enduring squalid and inhumane conditions daily. Humanitarian assistance, he added, remains severely restricted, and what little aid does enter is far from sufficient. \u201cHunger is visible everywhere \u2014 in the faces of children and the desperation of parents risking their lives for basic supplies,\u201d he told the Council, echoing the UN Secretary-General\u2019s condemnation of violence, including the killing and wounding of civilians seeking food. \u201cInternational law is clear: civilians must be protected and never deliberately deprived of essential aid \u2014 such acts amount to war crimes,\u201d he said, calling on Israel to immediately allow rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief into Gaza. Jenca also voiced concern over reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may expand military operations throughout the entire Gaza Strip, warning that such a move could have catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and further jeopardize the lives of hostages. Referring to the recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, Jenca reiterated that Gaza is and must remain an integral part of any future Palestinian state. He noted the ICJ\u2019s directive that Israel must halt settlement activity, evacuate settlers from occupied territories, and end its unlawful presence as swiftly as possible. He concluded by reaffirming the UN\u2019s stance: only a full and lasting ceasefire, the immediate release of hostages, and unimpeded humanitarian access can end the violence and prevent further tragedy in Gaza.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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