
Pakistan slams ‘Greater Israel' plan
Pakistan calls on the international community to outrightly reject such provocative notions that constitute a flagrant violation of the international law, principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter, as well as the relevant UN resolutions.
Such statements reflect the occupying power's intention to entrench its illegal occupation, as well as its complete contempt for all international efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in the region, the FO statement remarked.
The international community must take immediate and tangible measures to prevent the occupying power from further destabilising the region, and to end its ongoing crimes and atrocities against the Palestinians. 'Pakistan reaffirms its full support for the Palestinian people's legitimate rights, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,' Ambassador Khan asserted.
It is worth mentioning here that the Palestinian Authority, Arab League (AL) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have categorically dismissed and condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 'Greater Israel' plan, criticising the rhetoric as stemming from an 'extremist mindset steeped in a dangerous expansionist approach'.
They were of the view that such rhetoric constitutes a violation of the sovereignty of Arab states and an attempt to undermine security and stability in the region. The Israeli government on Thursday approved construction of over 3,401 new houses for Jewish settlers in West Bank, which sparked new controversy.
The move was being widely criticised, saying that it would further jeopardise Middle East security and aggravate the already volatile situation due to continued Israeli bombardment and forced starvation in Gaza.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Israeli military forces Palestinians' relocation to southern Gaza
Palestinians look at aid packages that are airdropped over Gaza, in Gaza City, August 8, 2025. REUTERS Gaza residents will be provided with tents and other shelter equipment starting from Sunday ahead of relocating them from combat zones to the south of the enclave "to ensure their safety," the Israeli military said on Saturday. This comes days after Israel said it intended to launch a new offensive to seize control of northern Gaza City, the enclave's largest urban centre, in a plan that raised international alarm over the fate of the demolished strip, home to about 2.2 million people. #عاجل 🔴 بناء على توجيهات المستوى السياسي وفي اطار تحضيرات جيش الدفاع لنقل السكان المدنيين من مناطق القتال إلى جنوب قطاع عزة حفاظا على أمنهم، سيتم اعتبارا من يوم الغد (الأحد) تجديد توفير الخيم ومعدات المأوى لسكان القطاع. ⭕️سيتم نقل المعدات عن طريق معبر كيرم شالوم بواسطة الأمم… — افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) August 16, 2025 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Sunday said that before launching the offensive, the civilian population will be evacuated to what he described as "safe zones" from Gaza City, which he called Hamas' last stronghold. The shelter equipment will be transferred via the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza by the United Nations and other international relief organisations after being inspected by defence ministry personnel, the military said. A spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expressed concern over Israel's plans to relocate people to southern Gaza saying it would only increase suffering. But the UN body welcomed Israel's recognition that shelter is a desperate need and that tents and other shelter equipment will be allowed again into Gaza. "The UN and its partners will seize the opportunity this opens," the spokesperson said. The UN warned on Thursday that thousands of families already enduring appalling humanitarian conditions could be pushed over the edge if the Gaza City plan moves ahead. Palestinian and United Nations officials have said no place in the enclave is safe, including areas in southern Gaza where Israel has been ordering residents to move to. More than 20 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, Al Jazeera reported citing medical sources. Read More: 39 killed in Gaza as Israel expands offensive The military declined to comment when asked whether the shelter equipment was intended for Gaza City's population estimated at around one million people presently, and whether the site to which they will be relocated in southern Gaza would be the area of Rafah, which borders Egypt. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday that the plans for the new offensive were still being formulated. The Palestinian militant faction Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, said that the military's announcement "as part of its brutal attack to occupy Gaza City, is a blatant and brazen mockery of international conventions." However, Israeli forces have already increased operations on the outskirts of Gaza City over the past week. Residents in the neighbourhoods of Zeitoun and Shejaia have reported heavy Israeli aerial and tank fire. Residents there have also reported explosions throughout the day, resulting from Israeli tank shelling against homes in the eastern parts of the neighbourhood. The Israeli military on Friday said that it had begun a new operation in Zeitoun to locate explosives, destroy tunnels and kill militants in the area. Israel's war in Gaza The war, now in its 21st month, has killed more than 61,776 Palestinians and wounded 154,906, according to Gazan health authorities. Most of the victims are reported to be women and children. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its conduct in Gaza.


Business Recorder
10 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Power plant south of Yemeni capital hit by ‘aggression', Houthi-run TV says
CAIRO: A power plant south of the Yemeni capital Sanaa was hit by an 'aggression', knocking some of its generators out of service, the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported on early Sunday. The Yemeni channel did not identify the source of the reported 'aggression'. Teams were working to put out a fire caused by the incident, Al Masirah added, citing a source in civil defence as saying. At least two explosions were heard earlier in Sanaa, residents said. Israel has been bombing Yemen in what it says is in response to the Iran-aligned Houthis' attacks on Israel. The Yemeni group has been firing missiles towards Israel, most of which has been intercepted, in what they describe as support to Palestinians during the war in Gaza. Israeli military has recently attacked Yemen, attempting to assassinate senior Houthi figure, Israeli media says The US and the UK. had also previously launched attacks against the Houthis in Yemen. In May, the US announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to the group's shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel.


Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Libyans vote in local elections
Libyan voters cast their ballots for municipal elections at a polling station in Tripoli. Photo: AFP Tens of thousands of Libyans voted in local elections on Saturday in areas controlled by the Tripoli government but opposition from a rival administration in the east prevented the polls going ahead elsewhere. The elections were seen as a test of democracy in a nation still plagued by division and instability after years of unrest following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) praised organisers for the conduct of Saturday's elections but criticised the eastern administration, backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar, for its "violation" of the rights of voters in areas under its control. Polling took place in around 50 municipalities, including the capital. "Voting today in Tripoli is crucial for me because it makes me feel useful," said Sami el-Tajuri, a 62-year-old architect, adding that his three children are voting for the first time. "It's frustrating to see that I can have my say in who will represent me but so many other Libyans, especially in the east, cannot." Since Kadhafi's overthrow, Libya has been split between the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and its eastern rival, backed by Haftar. Elections were initially scheduled in 63 municipalities — 41 in the west, 13 in the east and nine in the south. But the High National Election Commission (HNEC) suspended elections in 11 municipalities, mostly in Haftar-controlled areas, due to "irregularities", including unexplained halts in voter card distribution. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) commended the HNEC for its "steadfast commitment to ensure credible electoral operations amidst significant operational and security challenges". It said it regretted the decision of the eastern-based government to block the elections in areas under its control. "This is a violation of political rights of the Libyan citizens," the UN mission said. Turnout in the municipalities where elections were held reached 71 percent with 161,684 votes cast, according to provisional figures, the HNEC said