Latest news with #PalestinianCause
Arab News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Gaza's ‘tragic story' shows ‘unraveling of international law,' Pakistan's Ambassador to UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad tells Arab News
Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, in an interview with Arab News. (AN photo) NEW YORK CITY: A long-standing advocate of the Palestinian cause, Pakistan is using its presidency of the UN Security Council to help refocus global attention on the crisis in Gaza and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, outlined his country's vision in a wide-ranging interview with Arab News as the South Asian country assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council 'It's a tragic story. It is an unraveling of international law, international humanitarian law,' Ahmad said, decrying the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the international community's failure to pressure Israel to put an end to it. Reiterating his country's position at the UN, he said: 'We want clear movement in the direction of Palestinian statehood, on the basis of the right to self-determination, on the basis of international legitimacy and UN Security Council resolutions.' He also highlighted the significance of the upcoming conference on implementing the two-state solution — to be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France from July 28 to 30 — calling it 'another golden opportunity for the international community to come together and to reaffirm that support for the Palestinian cause.' Pakistan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister are expected to attend, offering the country's full political and diplomatic backing. In preparation, Ahmad said Pakistan has actively participated in eight preparatory roundtables addressing the political, security, humanitarian and legal dimensions of the two-state solution. 'We have described how we are going to support many of those actions,' he said. Regarding coordination with Saudi Arabia and others involved in ceasefire negotiations, Ahmad noted that while Pakistan is 'not directly involved,' it remains in close contact with key stakeholders. 'We hope that this ceasefire should be announced sooner rather than later,' he said. Asked whether Pakistan would consider normalizing relations with Israel if a Palestinian state were recognized and the violence in Gaza ended, Ahmad was unequivocal. 'There are no indications, unfortunately, from the Israeli side on moving forward with recognition,' he said. 'What we are looking at this point of time is Palestinian statehood in the context of the two-state solution.' Another unresolved conflict concerns the disputed Kashmir region between India and Pakistan. In May, India launched Operation Sindoor, firing missiles at what it claimed were militant targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in retaliation for a deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, that killed 26 civilians. India, which has accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism in Indian-administered Kashmir, said that Pakistan-based insurgents were behind the attack — claims that Islamabad denies. Pakistan responded to India's attacks with missile, drone and artillery strikes along the Line of Control and on military installations, in what it called Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos, sparking intense cross-border exchanges until a ceasefire was brokered on May 10. Ahmad linked these events to the broader unresolved status of the region. 'This recurring conflict was the result of Indian unprovoked aggression against Pakistan, which Pakistan had to respond to in accordance with the right to self-defense, in accordance with the UN Charter,' he said. He welcomed international mediation efforts and reiterated Pakistan's position. 'We want to have this dialog with India. We want to address the issues between us, and in particular the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.' He restated the legal basis for Pakistan's claims. 'This position derives itself from the resolutions of the UN Security Council on Jammu and Kashmir,' which call for a plebiscite for the Kashmiri people. However, 'that plebiscite has not been held because India has refused to comply.' Ahmad argued that lasting peace in South Asia is unlikely without resolving this 'core issue.' Turning to the credibility of the Security Council itself, Ahmad was blunt in his critique. 'It's very clear; resolutions are there. The problem is about implementation,' he said, citing both Kashmir and Palestine as long-neglected issues. He referred to Article 25 of the UN Charter, which affirms that all Security Council resolutions are binding, whether under Chapter VI or Chapter VII. 'There should be a review, an assessment of how the Security Council has been able to implement many of its resolutions,' he said. He proposed that special envoys or representatives of the secretary-general could help advance implementation. 'More important than adopting those resolutions is to have them implemented,' he said. Ahmad spoke at length about the leadership role Pakistan envisioned at the Security Council — including its commitment to multilateralism and its strategic engagement across UN agencies. Beyond peace and security, Pakistan remains actively engaged in the UN's development, humanitarian and environmental work. 'Pakistan, being a developing country, has development challenges. We are particularly impacted by climate change,' said Ahmad, recalling the devastating floods that have repeatedly afflicted the country in recent years. He highlighted Pakistan's leadership in climate diplomacy, emergency response and poverty reduction through collaboration with specialized UN agencies. 'We are among the lead countries who are leading this international discourse on development, on climate change,' he said. According to Ahmad, Pakistan is active not only in New York, but also across other UN hubs — including Geneva, Rome and Nairobi — contributing to human rights, sustainable development and climate resilience. On issues from Palestine and Kashmir to Security Council reform, he said, Pakistan is pushing for action grounded in the UN Charter and international law. As Ahmad sees it, the July presidency is an opportunity 'to bring that focus back' to the principles on which the UN was founded. At the heart of this approach is a renewed emphasis on multilateralism — a value Ahmad calls 'the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy.' In an increasingly divided world, he stressed that 'the attachment to the UN, the charter, international law, and this ability for the member states to work together through the UN' remains vital. Pakistan, he said, aims to advance peace and security through constructive cooperation with all member states, both inside and outside the council. Reflecting that goal, Pakistan's signature open debate next week will focus on 'how we can better use multilateralism and peaceful settlement of disputes to promote international peace and security.' The aim, he added, is to 'bring that discussion back to the council' and reaffirm the tools provided in the UN Charter — particularly Chapter VI on peaceful dispute resolution, Chapter VIII on regional arrangements, and the secretary-general's role in preventive diplomacy. 'We want to bring together and reaffirm the commitment of the Security Council to really utilize these tools,' Ahmad said. Although some expected Pakistan's signature event to spotlight national concerns, Ahmad clarified that the debate 'is not specific to any situation.' Rather, it is intended to promote 'a comprehensive approach to conflict prevention, preventive diplomacy,' and 'peacefully address disputes.' 'Pakistan does not believe that we are in the Security Council only to promote our own issues or agendas. Our agenda is broad, based on international law,' he said. Ahmad argued that such a holistic approach is essential to resolving many of the crises currently on the council's agenda — including Gaza and Kashmir.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Pro-Palestinian protester takes issue with Israeli team at Tour de France
A man protesting the participation of an Israel-based team in the Tour de France ran onto the course as the leaders raced for the finish line on Wednesday. Norwegian rider Jonas Abrahamsen won the 11th stage in a photo finish just ahead of Swiss rider Mauro Schmid, but their final sprint was accompanied by a man running alongside who wore a T-shirt saying, 'Israel out of the Tour,' and who waved a keffiyeh, the black-and-white checkered headscarf that has become a potent symbol of the Palestinian cause. A security guard ran out to apprehend the man. The Israel-Premier Tech team is racing at this year's Tour with eight team members from other countries. The team acquired the right to enter the Tour de France in 2020 when Israel Start-Up National took over Katusha's WorldTour license and has since claimed three stage victories, though none yet in this year's race. Team members previously faced protests because of the team's association with Israel, which has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians in 21 months of war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The war was sparked by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that killed some 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel and Hamas are considering a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal that could pause the war. ___
Al Jazeera
08-07-2025
- Al Jazeera
To Die for Palestine
A French nurse and an Italian photographer devote their lives to the Palestinian cause but make the ultimate sacrifice. This is a story about two Europeans who devoted their lives to the Palestinian cause and paid the ultimate price. Francoise Kesteman was a French nurse who worked in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon in the late 1970s and early 80s. She was a communist and saw the displacement of millions of Palestinians as a fundamental injustice that needed to be addressed. She joined armed Palestinian groups resisting the Israeli occupation. Franco Fontana was an Italian photographer who cofounded a Marxist-Leninist political group in the 1970s and organised exhibitions to raise awareness of the Palestinian cause. As a photojournalist, he visited Palestine and Lebanon, where he also joined groups fighting to liberate Palestine. Kesteman was killed in 1984 in a paramilitary operation in Lebanon. Fontana fell ill in 2015 and chose to return to a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, where he died and was buried, as was his dying wish.
Times
06-07-2025
- General
- Times
Conviction means staying put, not walking out
T he keffiyeh originated in the Iraqi city of Kufa in the 7th century, and was worn by Bedouin tribesmen to protect them from the harsh desert sun and sandstorms. So you can see why it's an essential piece of kit for some staff members in a Dublin primary school this summer. So essential, in fact, that two employees have handed in their resignation rather than give up wearing their scarves, and are due to cease employment in August — in the middle of their holidays, too. How about that for dedication? If the man and woman, a teacher and a special needs assistant (SNA) had left their jobs to work for a Gazan relief agency, it would be fair to say that they had put their commitment to the Palestinian cause above their dedication to their young pupils. But instead, it appears to be their commitment to this kind of activism that they have prioritised, at a time when the shortage of teachers in Dublin schools has, according to the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, reached 'crisis point'.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Miss Indonesia disqualifies contestant over pro-Israel video
A Miss Indonesia 2025 contestant was disqualified after a two-year-old video showing her expressing support for Israel resurfaced on social media. Merince Kogoya, representing Highland Papua, was removed from the pageant during the quarantine phase after the video went viral on social media over the weekend. The video, reportedly recorded during Kogoya's time studying abroad, shows her holding and waving an Israeli flag while dancing. The caption, translated online, reads: 'Diligent for Sion, loyal to Jerusalem, standing for Israel.' Kogoya faced immediate backlash after the video went viral in Indonesia as the world's most populous Muslim nation is a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause and has no diplomatic relations with Israel. In May this year, Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto said that his nation would be willing to establish diplomatic ties with the Jewish state 'once Israel recognises Palestine'. Public sentiment in Indonesia is strongly pro‑Palestinian and thousands of people join mass rallies and display Palestinian flags in solidarity. The outrage over Kogoya's video led the pageant's organisers to quietly remove her from the competition and replace her with Karmen Anastasya, the first runner-up from her province, according to The Jakarta Globe. The Miss Indonesia Organisation didn't issue a statement about Kogoya's disqualification. 'By considering the genocide committed by Israel as merely a religious conflict, she has already shown she doesn't meet the bare minimum for Miss Indonesia, who must have broad knowledge. No morals or empathy, even though in this day and age there's plenty of information, yet she chooses to think that way,' an X commentator said, according to an online translation. Responding to the backlash, Kogoya reportedly posted an Instagram Story on Monday insisting the video wasn't political but represented her Christian faith. 'I was simply practicing my faith as a follower of Christ by praying and offering blessings, but an old video from my reels went viral with many false interpretations about my beliefs,' she wrote. At the time, however, her Instagram bio still displayed the phrase 'I stand with Israel' as social media commentators noted. At least 74 people were killed in Gaza on Monday as Israeli forces continued to bombard the besieged Palestinian territory 20 months into the war. Additionally, local health authorities said at least 66 children had died from malnutrition caused by the Israeli war and blockade. The war on Gaza began after over 1,100 people were killed and 251 taken hostage during a Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023. The Israeli war has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians thus far, according to the local health ministry, displaced almost the entire population of 2.2 million and plunged the territory into a humanitarian crisis.
