UNITED NATION: Pakistan has reaffirmed its strong support for Palestinian statehood at a high-level United Nations conference, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar calling for full UN membership for Palestine, a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and unimpeded humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged territory. Speaking at the International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, Dar condemned Israel’s continued attacks on civilian infrastructure, including refugee camps and hospitals, stating that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has crossed every legal and moral boundary.
He warned that the blockade of aid and the deliberate targeting of essential services in Gaza amount to collective punishment and must end immediately. Dar welcomed France’s recent recognition of the Palestinian state and urged other nations to join the growing international momentum for Palestinian statehood. He emphasized that Gaza has become a graveyard of international law and humanitarian values, citing over 58,000 deaths, the majority being women and children, as a tragic breach of UN resolutions and the International Court of Justice’s binding orders.
Pakistan, Dar said, is committed to going beyond political statements. He offered Islamabad’s readiness to provide technical assistance and capacity building in sectors such as public administration, health, education, and service delivery in coordination with the Palestinian leadership. Pakistan also expressed willingness to contribute to institution-building efforts under the Arab-OIC Plan or any international protection mechanisms designed to support Palestine.
Dar stressed that the decades-long delay in delivering justice to Palestinians has had severe regional and global consequences. He stated that it is time for freedom, self-determination, and full UN membership for Palestine, calling these steps the most effective guarantees for a lasting peace in the Middle East.
The conference, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, was convened following a 2023 UN General Assembly resolution but had been delayed due to regional conflict. UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the session by stating the world must act urgently to secure a viable two-state solution. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as unbearable and said the destruction cannot be justified under any circumstances.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot echoed the urgency of the moment, warning that the ongoing war threatens the entire region’s peace and stability. He said the fighting must end, but what follows must be a concrete political solution based on a two-state framework. Barrot insisted that no alternative exists—political dialogue is the only viable path.
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Notably absent from the conference were the United States and Israel. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the timing of the conference was inappropriate and claimed that it could hinder rather than help the peace process.
Despite their absence, the conference proceeded with strong participation from several key nations and international organizations. The overwhelming sentiment among the participants was that the global community must act decisively and immediately to end the suffering in Gaza, restore humanitarian access, and move forward with the implementation of the long-delayed two-state solution.
