Pakistan’s Determined Support for Palestinian Cause

By Sajjad Shaukat

Quaid-i-Azam on November 8, 1945 said: “The Muslims of India would not remain mere spectators. They would help the Arabs in Palestine by all possible means”. With the passage of time, this relationship has been fortified, making it essential for Pakistan to stand in solidarity with the oppressed people of the Palestine. Since independence, Pakistani nation has remained emotionally linked with the Palestinian nation and has been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause.

Pakistani nation is in the state of extreme distress and infuriated over genocide of innocent Palestinian brothers, sisters and children by barbarous Israeli forces, which started on October 8, this year in response to the Hamas assault launched on Israel on October 7, 2023, as Israeli military was playing bloody game with the Palestinians in the recent years. Islamabad has long expressed concerns about the Israeli government’s systematic repression of Palestinians in Gaza strip and the West Bank, and condemned the Israel’s abusive repression.

In this regard, Pakistan’s top leadership has urged the in¬ternational community to wake up and stop the war which could potentially expand.

Country’s President Dr Arif Alvi on October 15, 2023 strongly condemned the massacre of Palestinians at the hands of Israel and urged both the world community and Muslim countries to take urgent action to stop the Zionist state and end the blockade of Gaza. He added: “Israel has crossed all limits by killing children, women and innocent people. Human history has never witnessed such cruelty and barbarism being committed at a massive level….Israel has cut off even water, electricity, food and medicine supply to the besieged enclave of Gaza…the international community has failed to prevent Israel from the genocide of the Palestinian people”.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq on October 7, 11 and 31, this year strongly censured the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza enclave and demanded an immediate cessation of air raids and the lifting of the blockade to facilitate the delivery of essential relief items to the civilians. He stressed that “resolving the Palestine issue according to the aspirations of its people is essential for peace in the Middle East”, and reiterated Pakistan’s support for “a two-state solution”.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on October 15, 2023 also expressed similar thoughts and called Israel for “committing genocide against the people of Palestine” as atrocities in Gaza continue to rage on the current situation as a consequence of “seven decades of illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories”. He insisted upon “the creation of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, in line with UN resolutions…with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital”.

He categorically maintained that there was no change in Pakistan’s policy regarding Israel. It would continue pursuing the same policy adopted in the past and would continue to do so until the Palestinians attain their right to self-determination.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News on October 25, 2023, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram stated: “Palestinian survival is at stake…his country will continue to raise its voice against Israeli bombing of civilian targets in Gaza”—urged world powers to halt Israel’s “slaughter” in Gaza and ensure an immediate ceasefire to put an end to hostilities in the Middle East.

Munir Akram indicated that Pakistan was the first country that had raised its voice for three immediate actions at the UN Security Council by calling for a ceasefire, provision of humanitarian access and corridor in Gaza and a rejection of any Palestinian displacement either within the besieged territory or outside of it.

He added: “This was in our first statement in the Security Council, and this position has now become the official position of the OIC [Organization of Islamic Cooperation] and of the Arab group…UN Security Council was unable to broker a ceasefire due to Washington’s move to veto a resolution moved by the council”.

Besides, Islamabad also supported the UN General Assembly’s resolution on October 26, this year, calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza—demanding provision of lifesaving supplies and services for civilians trapped inside the strip—India abstained in the General Assembly from voting to please its Israeli masters, especially the US.

Earlier, on October 17, 2023, in the Corps Commanders’ Conference presided by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, the top military brass expressed deep concern about the adverse developments taking place in the Gaza-Israel conflict and the enormous human cost being imposed on innocent civilians due to the disproportionate use of force by Israel.

According to a statement issued by army’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR): “The Conference extended “diplomatic, moral and political support of the Pakistani nation” to the principled stance of Palestinians”. The COAS stated: “We will continue to support the principled stance of our brethren for enduring resolution of the Palestinian issue and end to the unlawful occupation of their territories and Muslims’ sacred places”.

Again, during his meeting with the Palestinian ambassador to Pakistan Ahmad Jawad Rabei on October 24, 2023, General Syed Asim Munir condemned Israel for ‘unabated violence’ in Gaza—“willful, indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians by the Israeli Defense Forces in the war”, and called for immediate end to hostilities in Middle East, opening of humanitarian corridor to Gaza—urged international community to mobilize to put an end to ‘human tragedy’ unfolding in Palestine”, as said by ISPR.

And Political and religious leaders of the country expressed solidar¬ity with the Palestinian people, calling for an end to Israel’s “occupation and oppression”.

Meanwhile, from time to time, thousands of Pakistani men, women and children have been marching across the streets of Pakistan, particularly Islamabad to express their heartfelt solidarity with the Palestinian people. They demanded for an end to the double standards observed by the international community.

In fact, Pakistan’s commitment to the Palestinian cause is not merely rhetorical; it is among one of the few countries to have taken lead in view of the human tragedy unfolding in Gaza, and on October 19, 2023 dispatched the first consignment of relief aid to Palestinians, which included 1,000 winter tents, 4,000 blankets, and three tons of medicine. The assistance is being sent by the Pakistan army and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Islamabad on Tuesday (November 7, 2023) dispatched another consignment of relief goods for the people in Gaza.

It is of particular attention that in the ever-evolving landscape of international relations, there are examples when nations are called upon to take principled stands, not just for self-interest, but for the broader cause of justice and humanity. In this connection, many Arab countries recognized the state of Israel and established diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv. Especially, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Israel were engaged in a three-way dialogue, with America offering assurances to Riyadh for normalizing relations with Israel. Israel was exploring trade agreements, including potential gas exports to Europe and trade corridors with various states in the Middle East. But, Islamabad set aside the foreign pressure and refused to open Israeli embassy, as it has not recognized Israel.

Nevertheless, all these developments and the events illustrated Pakistan’s determined support for Palestinian cause emphasizing the need for international intervention and a peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict in line with UN resolutions and international law at a time when the whole western world stands with Tel Aviv.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

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