ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned recent Israeli attacks on unarmed Palestinians in Rafah-Gaza, urging international community to intervene to stop these barbaric and inhuman acts. Israel continued its airstrikes in Rafah, killing 12 more Palestinians.

"On behalf of government and people of Pakistan, I demand that international community play its due role to ensure that people of Palestine and Indian Occupied Kashmir are granted their rightful freedoms and basic human rights," he said in televised address.

He said that due to unprovoked and severe bombardment by Israeli forces across Gaza, including Rafah, over 36,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children, had been martyred so far."

After lapse of eight months, Israel's thirst for blood is still unquenched as it is now bombarding crowded camps of Palestinians displaced from across Gaza in Rafah (bordering Egypt)," he added.

He said that Israel had shown blatant disregard for international law, ignoring International Court of Justice's ruling and United Nations Security Council's resolutions. Not single global power could prevail on Israel to stop bloodshed of Palestinians, he regretted.

"I am thankful to Muslim countries that have raised their voices at different international forums, including Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and UN Security Council, against Israeli aggression," he added.

Saudi Crown Prince and rulers of United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and other countries were persistently voicing their support for hapless Palestinians, he added. He expressed gratitude to European countries, including Spain, Norway, and Ireland, for recognising state of Palestine in wake of Israel's atrocious military aggression.

Their bold and principled decision would hopefully encourage other countries to follow suit in recognising statehood of Palestine, he added. He prayed to Allah Almighty to bring an end to brutal oppression of Palestinian people and bless them with an independent state of Palestine where they could live freely.

He reiterated Pakistan's resolve to continue extending moral, political, and diplomatic support to Palestinian people until establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 31 2024

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