Pakistan says Israel's plan to take control of Gaza ‘flagrant' violation of international law
After a security cabinet meeting on Friday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed a plan to take over Gaza had been approved. A statement said the Israeli Defense Forces would prepare to take control of Gaza while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones.
The move drew a sharp reaction from several countries around the world, including Pakistan, while UN human rights chief Volker Turk this week called on Israel to immediately halt its plan.
'The DPM/FM condemned the Israeli plan for a complete military takeover, calling it a flagrant violation of international law and UNSC resolutions,' the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
Dar, who also serves as Pakistan's foreign minister, was speaking to his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan over the telephone on Saturday night.
Both leaders reviewed the Pakistan–Türkiye bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional and international developments, the foreign office said.
The two diplomats expressed 'grave concern' at the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Pakistani foreign office added.
'He [Dar] also stressed the urgent need for providing unimpeded humanitarian assistance, and an end to Israeli impunity,' the statement concluded.
Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies into Gaza since Israel began its military operations there nearly two years ago have led to shortages of food and essential supplies, including medicine and fuel, which hospitals require to power their generators.
Israel's offensives have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry, whose figures the United Nations says are reliable.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Israel is moving one (big) step closer to annexing Gaza
It would be an understatement to suggest that the current Israeli government has lost the plot. What it is plotting can only bring disaster to the Palestinians in Gaza, probably on Israel as well, and on the chances of bringing this horrific war to an end any time soon. After an all-night meeting last week, the Cabinet decided, in a symbolic move, that by Oct. 7 this year, the Israeli army will take over the entire Gaza Strip. This includes taking control of Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been trapped for many months, suffering from acute shortages of food, drinking water and medical aid, and living in constant fear of the next Israeli military assault. The many hours it took the Israeli Cabinet to reach this decision might suggest to some that there were deep divisions among the decision makers. This is hardly the case. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was determined to gain approval for the proposal, come what may. The only robust resistance came from Eyal Zamir, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, who tried to talk some sense into those around the table regarding the horrendous implications of such a decision for the military, the hostages still held by Hamas, and the country's standing in the world. But in a Cabinet stuffed with extremists, sycophants who would have no political existence without Netanyahu, and those who are too afraid to challenge him, the go-ahead for the plan was a formality. The Cabinet set out what it called five principles for expanding the military campaign in Gaza: disarming Hamas; the return of all hostages, both living and deceased; the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip; Israeli security control of the Gaza Strip; and the establishment of an alternative civilian government that involves neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. In reality, these can hardly be described as 'principles' but instead simply repeat the Cabinet's existing objectives; some of which were set early in this war, others added as it became apparent that the level of destruction Israeli authorities were inflicting on Gaza required that they at least pretend that they do not intend to remain in Gaza for the long term. In a Cabinet stuffed with extremists, sycophants who would have no political existence without Netanyahu, and those who are too afraid to challenge him, the go-ahead for the plan was a formality. Yossi Mekelberg So far, Israel might have reduced the military capabilities of Hamas but it has not eliminated the organization. Instead, it has simply inflicted immense misery and suffering upon the Palestinian people and deepened the divisions within Israel itself, while compromising the reputation of the country to the extent that it will now take a very long time for it to be salvaged. And for this Israeli government, any mention of efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages is mere lip service. Why Netanyahu should continue to believe that what Israel has failed to achieve in more than 22 months of war, despite infinitely superior military capabilities operating with little-to-no consideration for the lives or well-being of civilians, will nonetheless eventually lead to ultimate victory over Hamas beggars belief. The obvious ulterior motives of Israel's prime minister are becoming ever more apparent as he not only ignores the recommendations of the head of his army but, astonishingly, also a letter signed by some 600 retired senior security officials, including former army and intelligence agency chiefs, who wrote to US President Donald Trump urging him to put pressure on Israeli authorities to end the war in Gaza immediately. It is also telling that in their despair, these people, all of whom served their country loyally for decades, should send their plea to the American president and not their own prime minister, in whose integrity and judgment they have completely lost trust. Those who signed that letter are not wrong to have lost faith in Netanyahu's conduct of this war; his latest decision, which to all intents and purposes means occupation of the Gaza Strip in its entirety, was taken either because he is biding his time to satisfy the messianic ultranationalists within his coalition government, or is gambling that by entering Gaza City he will be able to defeat Hamas and release the hostages, which could put him in a position to call an early general election and perhaps win it. The former scenario is pure, cynical opportunism. The latter reflects cynicism and delusion in equal measure. Regardless of the motivation, the outcome will be yet more suffering and bloodshed. Moreover, it was reported that during last week's Cabinet meeting, Gen. Zamir warned that this course of action was as good as giving up on those hostages still thought to be alive. In light of the fact that it was mainly diplomacy that achieved the prior release of some hostages, it is impossible to contradict his warning. For a long time now, this war has no longer been about defeating Hamas or rescuing the hostages … it has purely been about rescuing Netanyahu's declining political career and saving him from a possible jail sentence. Yossi Mekelberg In an effort to cool the inevitable roasting his country would receive from the international community upon learning of his plan, Netanyahu refrained from describing the objective of the military operation as an 'occupation' and opted instead to use the word 'takeover.' After more than 22 months of mass killings and destruction inflicted by Israel in Gaza, however, his decision was still viewed as a step too far by countries around the globe, including close friends and allies, who condemned it in no uncertain terms. The UK's prime minister, Keir Starmer, instantly condemned the Israeli security Cabinet's decision as 'wrong' and urged its members to immediately reconsider as 'it will only bring more bloodshed.' In an unprecedented move, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that his government would no longer approve the sale of military equipment to Israel if it might be used in Gaza. It would be naive not to believe that one of the calculations made by the Israeli government in formulating its plan was that the threat of a large-scale military operation would result in many residents of Gaza City fleeing to other parts of the tiny territory, and perhaps eventually leaving it. This would only add to the extreme woes of the Palestinian population, many of them young children, who have been displaced several times in the past two years with no access to food or clean water, and are suffering from malnutrition and even starvation. Moreover, war in urban areas not only means the likelihood of many civilian casualties, it also means further deployment in such an environment of already exhausted Israeli troops who have been on active service on the front lines for nearly two years, with all the likely effects this might have on their judgment. It is a recipe for disaster. For a long time now, this war has no longer been about defeating Hamas or rescuing the hostages. Instead, it has purely been about rescuing Netanyahu's declining political career and saving him from a possible jail sentence for corruption. In service of that, he will stop at nothing. • Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. X: @YMekelberg
Leaders
3 hours ago
- Leaders
China Rejects European Sanctions over Iran's Nuclear Program
China said on Friday it 'opposes invoking' sanctions on Iranian Nuclear Program and 'believes that it does not help parties build trust and bridge differences,' according to AFP. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated that imposing sanctions 'is not conducive to the diplomatic effort for the early resumption of talks.' On Thursday, Iran announced it was working with both China and Russia to stop the snapback of European sanctions. This move came after the foreign ministers from the E3 group — Britain, France and Germany, told the United Nations that they would reimpose them if Iran does not reach a diplomatic solution by the end of August. 'We will try to prevent it,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told state TV on Thursday. No Moral or Legal Ground to Reactivate Snapback Sanctions In July, Araqchi told his European counterparts that they have no moral or legal grounds for reactivating UN sanctions, according to Al Arabiya. Araqchi's remarks come after Europeans threatened to do so in coming months if there is no progress in nuclear talks. 'If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the 'snap-back' for which they (have) absolutely no moral (or) legal grounds,' Araghchi said on X. He also noted Tehran is ready for a new round of talks if the other side is willing to reach 'a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear deal.' In June, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the Europeans would be 'justified' in pursuing a snapback of UN sanctions lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers. The speculation about Tehran's nuclear program has been increasing since Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13. The US became directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran on June 22 after launching airstrikes on the Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. Related Topics: IAEA to Visit Iran Within Next Two Weeks Iran Says Any Future Talks Should Hold US Accountable for Nuclear Site Attacks US Has Bank of Potential Military Targets in Iran: Col. Dahouk Short link : Post Views: 4
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Jordan, UK discuss strengthening transport cooperation
AMMAN: Jordanian Minister of Transport Nidal Qatamin met on Saturday with British Charge d'Affaires Hazel Mowbray to discuss expanding cooperation between Jordan and the UK in the transport sector, the Jordan News Agency reported. Qatamin highlighted the importance of UK support in advancing public transport and logistics, which he described as vital to the kingdom's economic development. Mowbray pledged British backing through the International Growth Centre (IGC), an economic research center based at the London School of Economics, in coordination with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, to support priority projects in the sector. Both sides agreed to continue technical and institutional cooperation to achieve Jordan's transport development goals and further strengthen the bilateral partnership.
