https://arab.news/4fdby
- Pakistan does not recognize Israel as a state and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders
- Sharif says the ‘massacre’ ongoing in Gaza was never seen or heard of and yet no institution in the world could stop it
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister-elect Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday urged the people of his country to come together to present a unified stance on Gaza, amid Israel’s relentless bombing of the Palestinian territory.
Sharif’s comments came during his maiden speech in the National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistan parliament, after being voted in as the 23rd prime minister of Pakistan.
Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Sharif said the “massacre” ongoing in Gaza was never seen or heard of in the entire world, and yet no institution in the world could stop the Jewish state from what he called worst cruelty and bloodshed.
“I want to say this before my honorable house [parliament], Mr. Speaker, I want to say this before you and through you, I want to say this before the whole of Pakistan that come and let us unite today,” he said.
“Let us all be united and the worst hostilities being carried out in Gaza and Palestine, the worst oppression being carried out in Kashmir, Pakistan should not only present its principled stance on them, but this house should also pass a resolution today of strong condemnation and for the rights and freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians.”
The statement by the Pakistan prime minister-elect came as fighting between Israeli military and Hamas raged on in the Palestinian territory, amid talks in Cairo for a ceasefire.
US, Qatari and Hamas envoys traveled to Cairo for the latest effort toward a six-week truce, stepped-up aid deliveries and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Their goal has been to secure a truce by the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 10 or 11.
The war, which began on Oct. 7 with an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel, has killed 30,410 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.