During a briefing at the United Nations Security Council on the Middle East and the Palestinian issue, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar stated that despite political progress in occupied Palestine, the situation remains extremely serious, with continued ceasefire violations.
In his briefing, Iftikhar expressed his 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 and described the humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians trapped under siege, repeatedly bombed and suffering from severe hunger.
More than 70,000 people have reportedly died, most 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 and impunity prevails.
Iftikhar highlighted two important developments amid the current Israeli aggression. First, a high-level meeting was held in July to advance a peaceful resolution and 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 underlined concrete, irreversible and time-bound steps towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, reflecting the aspirations of the international community.
The second key development was the result of 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 towards self-determination and the creation of a Palestinian state.
This process facilitated the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 last week. Pakistan, as part of this group, welcomed the initiative and supported the proposals to end hostilities, rebuild Gaza, prevent displacement, promote comprehensive peace and stop the annexation of the West Bank.
Read: Gaza truce advances slowly as violence between Israel and Hamas persists
Iftikhar reaffirmed Pakistan’s consistent and principled support for the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights. He reported on continued civilian casualties in Israeli airstrikes and noted that more than 300 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire was declared, highlighting the gap between verbal commitments and realities on the ground. Homes continue to be destroyed, lives are lost and families live in constant fear.
The West Bank is similarly affected, with unprecedented Israeli military and settler aggression. October saw the highest number of settler attacks since UN monitoring began in 2006.
Villages, particularly in the northwestern West Bank, have been displaced by raids and increasing intimidation. Iftikhar emphasized that Palestinians must be allowed to return to their homes and live without fear.
He outlined the key priorities for advancing the peace process: the full implementation of Resolution 2803, ensuring Palestinian-led governance, reconstruction and institutional capacity development; strict compliance with the ceasefire with zero tolerance towards unilateral actions; uninterrupted humanitarian access; immediate reconstruction of Gaza; prevention of annexations and forced displacements; stop the expansion of Israeli settlements and demographic manipulation; ensure accountability for serious violations of international law; ending the Israeli occupation of Arab lands, including Palestine, Syria and Lebanon; and establish a credible and 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 emphasized that the two-state solution, the New York Declaration and peace initiatives are complementary and must be implemented through coordinated and united action to fulfill the promise of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with international law.
He concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s firm solidarity with the Palestinian people, recognizing their resilience in the midst of unimaginable suffering and underlining the responsibility of the international community to fulfill that commitment.
Read more: 22 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza despite ceasefire
He described the current moment as decisive and emphasized that promises must now be translated into tangible actions. Pakistan firmly supports Palestine in its quest for dignity, justice, self-determination and statehood.
Gaza agreement
On November 18, the UN Security Council voted to adopt a US-drafted resolution backing President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and authorizing an international stabilization force for the Palestinian enclave.
Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas last month agreed on the first phase of Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza — a ceasefire in their two-year war and a hostage release deal — but the U.N. resolution is seen as vital to legitimizing a transitional governing body and reassuring countries considering sending troops to Gaza.
Trump unveiled the 20-point peace plan in late September alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, raising questions about whether the initiative would lead to a two-state solution. The deal has been met with criticism and concerns that Pakistan is wavering in its commitment to the Palestinian cause.
Also read: Pakistan condemns Israeli attacks that kill civilians in Gaza
The plan, backed by eight Muslim states (Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt) aims to enforce a ceasefire, protect civilians and begin rebuilding war-torn areas.
Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in Gaza on Monday near the line demarcating areas under Israeli control, underscoring the fight to extend a fragile ceasefire deal approved more than six weeks ago to global acclaim.
In a statement on Sunday, the Foreign Office (FO) condemned such violations, stating: “Such actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law, relevant UN resolutions and the recently concluded peace agreement in Sharm El-Sheikh. These attacks also undermine international efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.”
“The Government of Pakistan reiterates its call on the international community to take immediate steps to end Israeli impunity and ceasefire violations, and to respect international humanitarian law and human rights.”
