Latest news with #PalestinianQuestion
Al Arabiya
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Saudi-France-led high-level Palestinian statehood conference kicks off in New York
A high-level two-state conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France kicked off on Monday from New York with the aim to advance efforts toward a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution. 'The High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,' is being held with the goal of creating a concrete framework to support the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state and enhance prospects for lasting peace. Developing
Express Tribune
24-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Starvation grips Gaza asfood crisis deepens
Seela Barbakh, an 11-month-old Palestinian girl who is malnourished, is held by her mother at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Photo: REUTERS Listen to article The World Health Organization's chief warned Wednesday of widespread starvation in Gaza, saying food deliveries into the war-ravaged Palestinian territory were "far below what is needed for the survival of the population". "A large proportion of the population of Gaza is starving. I don't know what you would call it other than mass starvation — and it's man-made," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters. His statement added his voice to those of 111 aid organisations and rights groups, including MSF and Oxfam, who warned earlier Wednesday that "mass starvation" was spreading in Gaza. "Our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away," they said in a joint statement. The United Nations and aid groups trying to deliver food to Gaza say Israel, which controls everything that comes in and out, is choking delivery, and Israeli troops have shot hundreds of Palestinians dead close to aid collection points since May. Starvation grips Gaza as food crisis deepens "We have a minimum set of requirements to be able to operate inside Gaza," Ross Smith, the director of emergencies at the UN World Food Programme, told Reuters. "One of the most important things I want to emphasize is that we need to have no armed actors near our distribution points, near our convoys." Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday urged the international community to deliver justice, freedom, dignity, and a state to the long-suffering Palestinian people. He also called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, a halt to illegal settlements, and post-war reconstruction. "It is time to give the Palestinian people what they have been denied for too long: justice, freedom, dignity, and a state of their own. That is the path to durable peace and stability in the Middle East," Ishaq Dar said while chairing the UN Security Council's "Open Debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question". He emphasized that the path to lasting peace lies in upholding international law, ending foreign occupation, rejecting the use of force, and advancing solutions through dialogue and diplomacy. "Gaza has become a graveyard for innocent lives as well as for international law," Ishaq Dar stated, citing systematic attacks on hospitals, schools, refugee camps, and aid convoys. He emphasized that the unfolding hunger crisis, with a third of Gaza's population going days without food, is a dire warning of catastrophic levels of food restaurants near me Calling the Palestinian issue a litmus test for the UN's credibility, the deputy PM warned that failure to act decisively would embolden impunity and erode the international rules-based order. The deputy PM urged the Security Council to pursue with unity and urgency, concrete measures including immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire across Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including full implementation of Resolution 2735, unfettered humanitarian access and protection for aid workers, with urgent restoration of food and medical supply lines, renewed support for UNRWA, the United Nations agency supporting Palestinian refugees, an end to forced displacement and illegal settlement expansion, particularly in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, implementation of the Arab and OIC-led reconstruction plan for Gaza, and revival of a time-bound political process to achieve a two-state solution in accordance with UN resolutions and international law. Reaffirming Pakistan's support for a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital, Dar welcomed recent momentum toward Palestine's recognition and UN membership. He highlighted the upcoming International Conference on the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, as a key opportunity for renewed diplomatic progress. Dar also addressed broader regional issues, urging peaceful resolution of conflicts in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, and condemn recent Israeli military actions in Iran. He reiterated Pakistan's support for multilateral diplomacy and adherence to international law as the only path to regional peace and stability. Israel is facing mounting international pressure over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, where more than two million people are facing severe shortages of food and other essentials after 21 months of conflict. Even after Israel began easing a more than two-month aid blockade in late May, Gaza's population is still suffering extreme scarcities. "The 2.1 million people trapped in the war zone that is Gaza are facing yet another killer on top of bombs and bullets: starvation," Tedros said. "We are now witnessing a deadly surge in malnutrition-related deaths," he added. Tedros highlighted that "rates of global acute malnutrition exceed 10 percent, and over 20 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women that have been screened are malnourished, often severely". The UN health agency has documented 21 deaths in Gaza related to malnutrition of children under the age of five since the beginning of the year, but acknowledges that that the true number is likely higher. The head of Gaza's largest hospital said Tuesday that 21 children had died due to malnutrition and starvation in the Palestinian territory over the previous three days alone. Tedros warned that "the hunger crisis is being accelerated by the collapse of aid pipelines and restrictions on access". The starvation is "man-made" and clearly caused by Israel's blockade on the territory, he said. The WHO chief highlighted how starving people were risking their lives to access aid. The UN rights office said Tuesday that Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid in Gaza since the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operations in late May. "Not only 1,026 were killed while trying to feed themselves or find food for their family. Thousands were also wounded," Tedros said. "We demand that there is full access, and we demand that there is a ceasefire," he said. "We demand that there is a political solution to this problem, a lasting solution." Killings The Al-Shaer family went to bed hungry at their home in Gaza City. An Israeli airstrike killed them in their sleep. The family — freelance journalist Wala al-Jaabari, her husband and their five children — were among more than 100 people killed in 24 hours of Israeli strikes or gunfire, according to health officials. Their corpses lay in white shrouds outside their bombed home on Wednesday with their names scribbled in pen. Blood seeped through the shrouds as they lay there, staining them red. "This is my cousin. He was 10. We dug them out of the rubble," Amr al-Shaer, holding one of the bodies after retrieving it. Iman al-Shaer, another relative who lives nearby, said the family hadn't eaten anything before the bombs came down. "The children slept without food," he said. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike at the family's home, but said its air force had struck 120 targets throughout Gaza in the past day, including "terrorist cells, military structures, tunnels, booby-trapped structures, and additional terrorist infrastructure sites". Relatives said some neighbours were spared only because they had been out searching for food at the time of the strike. Ten more Palestinians died overnight from starvation, the Gaza health ministry said, bringing the total number of people who have starved to death to 111, most of them in recent weeks as a wave of hunger crashes on the Palestinian enclave.
Express Tribune
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Dar for inclusive dialogue over confrontation
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar addresses the UNSC's Open Debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question on Wednesday in New York. Photo: X Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Wednesday called for an inclusive dialogue and cooperative diplomacy over confrontation amid times of growing turbulence across the world as "the cost of unresolved disputes, long-running conflicts, unilateral actions, and disregard for international law are being felt in every region". In his address delivered at the reception hosted by Pakistan's Mission in New York on the occasion of Pakistan's Presidency of the UN Security Council, the DPM emphasized Pakistan's unwavering commitment to multilateralism, peaceful dispute resolution, and the foundational principles of the UN Charter. Speaking to diplomats, UN officials and representatives of member states, Dar underscored that at the heart of Pakistan's foreign policy was a firm belief in multilateralism and the rule of international law. "The purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter, especially the peaceful settlement of disputes and the non-use or threat of force, are foundational to the United Nations and indispensable for a just international order," he stated. "The Security Council must be seen not only as a chamber of reaction but as a forum of prevention, problem-solving, and principled leadership," he asserted. Reaffirming Pakistan's active diplomatic engagement, the Deputy Prime Minister said the country remains committed to working with partners around the world to advance the shared goals of peace, development, and human rights.
Express Tribune
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Dar calls for immediate, unconditional Gaza truce at UN
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar addresses the UNSC's Open Debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question on Wednesday in New York. Photo: X Listen to article Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to pursue with urgency an immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He was addressing the UNSC's Open Debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, where he warned that what the world has witnessed over the last nine months 'is not just a humanitarian catastrophe, but a collapse of humanity itself.' 'Gaza has become a graveyard for innocent lives as well as for international law—particularly international humanitarian law,' he said. 'Over 58,000 Palestinians—most of them women and children—have been killed in Israel's brutal military assault,' he added. Dar highlighted the worsening food crisis in the besieged enclave, citing UN figures that show one-third of Gaza's population is going multiple days without eating—an indicator of catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaq50, presided over the United Nations Security Council's Quarterly Open Debate on the "Situation in the Middle East including the Palestinian Question". The Open Debate was upgraded to the Ministerial level… — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 23, 2025 Calling the Palestinian issue a 'litmus test' for the credibility of the United Nations and the Security Council, he warned that failing to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people would embolden impunity and weaken the legitimacy of the international rules-based order. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's principled support for the Palestinian cause, reiterating Islamabad's call for the establishment of a viable, sovereign and contiguous Palestinian state along pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. This, he said, remains the only just and durable solution endorsed by Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the consensus position of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Read More: Starvation-related deaths in Gaza mount to 111 He underscored the need for urgent humanitarian access across Gaza, stressing the importance of secure, sustained, and unhindered delivery of aid to civilians. Protection for humanitarian workers, medical personnel, and UN staff must also be ensured, he added. Dar called for immediate steps to restore aid supply lines and prevent famine from taking hold in the besieged territory. He also urged the international community to reinforce support for UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for aiding Palestinian refugees, which he described as indispensable to the survival of millions. 🔴LIVE: DPM/FM's Statement at the UN Security Council's Quarterly Open Debate on ' The Situation in the Middle East and the Question of Palestine' — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 23, 2025 The foreign minister demanded an end to forced displacement of Palestinians, as well as the continued expansion of illegal settlements and annexation of occupied territory, particularly in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. He warned that such actions were in direct contravention of international law and risked further destabilising the region. Highlighting the importance of post-conflict recovery and rehabilitation in Gaza, he welcomed the Arab and OIC-led reconstruction plan as a vital framework for rebuilding livelihoods, restoring dignity, and enabling long-term sustainable development. Also Read: UN says Israeli military killed over 1,000 seeking Gaza aid since late May DPM also called for the revival of a genuine, time-bound political process aimed at achieving a just, comprehensive, and lasting two-state solution in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions. On broader regional issues, the foreign minister said Pakistan supported the stabilisation of Syria through an inclusive political process. He called on Israel to immediately withdraw from the separation zone established under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, in line with UNSC resolutions 242, 338, and 497. Referring to Lebanon, he said Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire understanding must be upheld, while the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected. He also reaffirmed Pakistan's support for the UN-led peace process in Yemen and praised the roles of Saudi Arabia and Oman in facilitating dialogue. Dar welcomed growing international momentum for Palestinian statehood and full UN membership, reiterating Pakistan's support for such efforts. He said the time had come to give the Palestinian people what they had long been denied: justice, freedom, dignity, and a state of their own. This, he added, was the only path to lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
Express Tribune
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Ishaq Dar arrives in New York for UN meetings
Ishaq Dar, arrived in New York for a week-long official visit Photo: MOFA Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, arrived in New York for a week-long official visit, where he will spearhead Pakistan's diplomatic engagements as president of the United Nations Security Council. During his stay from July 21 to 28, Dar is scheduled to lead high-level signature events at the UN headquarters, reflecting Islamabad's current leadership role in the Security Council. His visit will also include bilateral and multilateral meetings in New York and Washington, DC., aimed at strengthening Pakistan's foreign relations. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, arrived in New York for an official visit from 21 to 28 July 2025. During the visit, he will lead high-level signature events under Pakistan's Presidency of the UN Security Council, hold bilateral… — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 21, 2025 Dar will represent Pakistan at the International Conference on the Two-State Solution, a high-profile event co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, which seeks to re-energise international support for Palestinian statehood. Upon arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Dar was received by Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and the Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States. Read: Pakistan urges more funding for developing countries As part of his engagements, Dar will chair a high-level open debate on 'Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes', which seeks to reinforce diplomacy and mediation as vital tools for resolving global conflicts. He is also set to preside over the Council's quarterly open debate on the 'Situation in the Middle East including the Palestinian Question', reaffirming Pakistan's long-standing support for resolving protracted international disputes through dialogue and consensus. In addition, Dar will chair a special UNSC briefing focused on enhancing cooperation between the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in a bid to strengthen synergy between multilateral institutions in the pursuit of global peace and security.
