Pakistan highlights Gaza humanitarian crisis at UNSC briefing
NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar has said that despite political progress in occupied Palestine, the situation remains extremely serious, with ongoing violations of the ceasefire.
He stated this during a briefing at the United Nations Security Council on the Middle East and the Palestinian issue on Tuesday.
Iftikhar expressed gratitude to the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ramiz Alakbarov, for his comprehensive briefing. He highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict in Gaza over the past two years, describing the humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians trapped under siege, repeatedly bombed, and suffering from severe hunger.
Over 70,000 people have reportedly been killed, the majority of them women and children, and much of the social and economic infrastructure has been reduced to rubble. Calls for accountability have been largely ignored, with impunity prevailing.
Iftikhar noted two significant developments amidst the ongoing Israeli aggression. First, a high-level meeting was held in July to advance a peaceful resolution and the implementation of a two-state solution, culminating in the adoption of the New York Declaration on September 12.
The conference also decided to resume discussions on September 22. The declaration underscored concrete, time-bound, and irreversible steps towards establishing an independent Palestinian state, reflecting the international community’s aspirations.
The second key development resulted from sustained political engagement and diplomacy. The Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit brought together regional and global partners to maintain the ceasefire, address humanitarian destruction, and lay the foundation for a credible political path toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
This process facilitated the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 last week. Pakistan, as part of this group, welcomed the initiative and supported proposals to end hostilities, rebuild Gaza, prevent displacement, promote comprehensive peace, and halt West Bank annexation.
Iftikhar reaffirmed Pakistan’s consistent and principled support for the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights. He reported continued civilian casualties in Israeli airstrikes, noting that over 300 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire was declared, highlighting the gap between verbal commitments and ground realities. Homes continue to be destroyed, lives lost, and families live under constant fear.
The West Bank is similarly affected, with unprecedented Israeli settler and military aggression. October recorded the highest number of settler attacks since UN monitoring began in 2006.
Villages, particularly in the north-western West Bank, have been displaced under raids and growing intimidation. Iftikhar stressed that Palestinians must be allowed to return home and live without fear.
He outlined key priorities to advance the peace process: full implementation of Resolution 2803, ensuring Palestinian-led governance, reconstruction, and institutional capacity-building; strict adherence to the ceasefire with zero tolerance for unilateral actions; uninterrupted humanitarian access; immediate reconstruction of Gaza; prevention of annexation and forced displacement; halting Israeli settlement expansion and demographic manipulation; ensuring accountability for serious violations of international law; ending Israeli occupation across Arab lands, including Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon; and establishing a credible, time-bound political process based on UN resolutions to achieve a sovereign, independent, and territorially contiguous Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Iftikhar emphasised that the two-state solution, the New York Declaration, and peace initiatives are complementary and must be implemented through coordinated, united action to fulfil the promise of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with international law.
He concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s steadfast solidarity with the Palestinian people, recognising their resilience amid unimaginable suffering, and underlining the international community’s responsibility to match that commitment.
He described the current moment as decisive, stressing that pledges must now translate into tangible action. Pakistan stands firmly with Palestine in its pursuit of dignity, justice, self-determination, and statehood. Monitoring Desk
