Pakistan strongly condemns Israel’s atrocities in Gaza: Ambassador Masood Khan

New York, August 07, 2014 (PPI-OT): At the United Nations General Assembly meeting on the situation in Ghaza here today Pakistan strongly condemned Israel’s atrocities in Gaza. Participating in the meeting, Ambassador Masood Khan added, “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called on the international community to play its vital role in putting an end to the brutal Israeli aggression against Palestinians which amounts to genocide”.

Expressing public sentiments against Israel, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to UN said that the people of Pakistan were outraged at the scale of flagrant violence in disregard of all norms of humanity.

Pakistan regretted that the General Assembly, which had always demanded to play a more active role in the maintenance of international peace and security, was meeting so late, and that too in an informal setting, with its members serving as a mere sounding board and that no decision was on the anvil.

Ambassador Khan said that the force used by Israel has been disproportionate, indiscriminate and lethal. “The established norms of international humanitarian law – distinction, proportionality and precaution – were cast aside. The whole territory of Gaza has been wrecked and ravaged. Most of Gaza is a wasteland. This was no war between two equals; there was no symmetry”, he added.

Pakistan emphasized that the human rights and humanitarian dimensions of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was a direct consequence of the denial of the fundamental right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. Pakistan condoled with the Palestinians over their grievous losses, as well as with the families of UNRWA officials who gave their lives in the cause of peace.

Pakistan welcomed the 72-hour ceasefire announced yesterday and noted that the ceasefire was fragile. The situation in Gaza, Pakistan envoy said was grim and grave. He added “It is imperative that the temporary ceasefire is consolidated and turned into a more enduring ceasefire. No step should be taken by either side that would imperil lives again”.

Pakistan demanded that more than 1,000 Palestinians imprisoned since June this year must be released and that the blockade of Gaza must be lifted forthwith to put an end to the collective punishment of the people of that territory.

Pakistan also called for the implementation of the Human Rights Council’s decision to constitute an international commission of inquiry to investigate violations of international human rights and humanitarian law; as well as its call for reconvening the Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Ambassador Khan said that It was important that the peace process was revived to find a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders leading to a sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel in peace and harmony.

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