Pakistan and other Muslim countries on Monday slammed Israeli violations of the fragile Gaza ceasefire and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territory, according to the Foreign Office (FO). Hamas and Israel signed a ceasefire agreement on October 9, agreeing to free the Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in the first phase of United States President Donald Trump\u2019s initiative to end the Israeli onslaught in Gaza. Pakistan was one of the eight Arab and Muslim countries to work with Trump on the plan. Despite occasional flare-ups, the fragile truce has been holding in Gaza. The truce, which left thorny issues like the disarmament of Hamas and a timeline for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza unresolved, has been tested by unilateral Israeli bombardment since coming into force. The foreign ministers of Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan \u2014 the same countries that met with Trump on Sept 23 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly \u2014 met at the Coordination Meeting of Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers in Istanbul today to discuss the ceasefire. A statement from the FO said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other Arab-Islamic diplomats deliberated on the way forward for a lasting ceasefire and sustainable peace in Gaza. \u201cThe leaders jointly called for urgent humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, condemned Israeli ceasefire violations, demanded Israel\u2019s withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territory and emphasised the rebuilding of Gaza. \u201cPakistan reaffirmed its principled stance for the establishment of an independent, viable and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in line with the UN and OIC resolutions.\u201d The countries said that Gaza\u2019s future must be Palestinian-led and avoid any new system of tutelage. Turkiye, which played a central role in forging the now shaky three-week-old ceasefire, is pushing for Muslim nations to bring their influence to bear on the reconstruction of the embattled territory. \u201cOur principle is that Palestinians should govern the Palestinians and ensure their own security, the international community should support this in the best possible way \u2014 diplomatically, institutionally and economically,\u201d Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said after the talks. \u201cNobody wants to see a new system of tutelage emerge,\u201d he told a news conference. \u201cWe\u2019ve now reached an extremely critical stage: we do not want the genocide in Gaza to resume,\u201d Fidan added, saying all seven nations supported plans for the Palestinians to take control of Gaza\u2019s security and governance. Fidan, who held talks at the weekend with a Hamas delegation led by its chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, said the movement was \u201cready to hand Gaza to a committee of Palestinians\u201d. He also expressed hope that reconciliation efforts between Hamas and the rival West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, \u201cwill bear fruit as soon as possible\u201d, saying inter-Palestinian unity would \u201cstrengthen Palestine\u2019s representation in the international community\u201d. Fidan said it was crucial that the emerging International Stabilisation Force (ISF) that will monitor the Gaza ceasefire under Trump\u2019s plan, have a \u201cmandate defined by a UN Security Council resolution and a framework for legitimacy\u201d. Washington is currently working with Arab and international partners to decide on the composition of the force, with Turkiye hoping to play a role, despite fierce opposition from Israel. \u201cThe countries we\u2019ve spoken with say they will decide whether to send troops based on \u2026 the ISF\u2019s mandate and authority,\u201d Fidan said. \u201cFirst, a general consensus needs to be reached on a draft, then it needs to be approved by the members of the Security Council. \u201cAnd it needs to be free from vetoes by any of the permanent (UNSC) members,\u201d he said of a blocking move frequently used by key Israel ally Washington. Israel has long viewed Turkiye\u2019s diplomatic overtures with suspicion over Ankara\u2019s close ties with Hamas and adamantly opposes it joining the task force that is meant to take over after Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza. A Turkish disaster relief team, sent to help efforts to recover the remains of those trapped under the rubble \u2014 including Israelis seized by Hamas \u2014 has been stuck at the border because Israel refused to let them in, according to Ankara. Earlier, FM Dar reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s commitment to deepen cooperation with T\u00fcrkiye across political, economic, and defence spheres in a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, while agreeing to continue working together on the issue of Palestine. Dar held a bilateral meeting with FM Fidan on the meeting\u2019s sidelines, the FO said. \u201cDuring the meeting, the ministers expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of Pakistan\u2013T\u00fcrkiye bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further deepening cooperation across political, economic, and defence spheres. \u201cBoth sides agreed to continue working together on the issue of Palestine, especially establishing sustainable peace in Gaza.\u201d It added that both leaders reaffirmed the strong bonds of brotherhood and mutual support that continue to underpin Pakistan\u2013T\u00fcrkiye relations and agreed to maintain close coordination on regional and international issues. Earlier in the day, the FO posted on X that upon arrival, FM Dar was received by Ambassador Ahmet Cemil Miro\u011flu, Director General of Protocol, as well as officials of the Pakistan Embassy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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