Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar, has described the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories as extremely serious, telling a UN Security Council briefing on the Middle East and the Palestine issue that ceasefire violations are continuing without pause.
He drew attention to the devastating conflict in Gaza, now in its second year, where more than 70,000 people have been killed, most of them women and children. Iftikhar expressed deep concern over the severe humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians trapped under blockade and constant bombardment, as well as the widespread destruction of essential infrastructure. He noted that calls for accountability have been largely ignored, creating a growing sense of impunity.
Despite ongoing Israeli aggression, Iftikhar highlighted two important political developments. The first was the New York Declaration of 12 September, which called for concrete, timely, and irreversible steps toward establishing an independent Palestinian state—an important step forward for the two-state solution. The second was the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Conference, which focused on maintaining the ceasefire, addressing the humanitarian disaster, and creating a political pathway for Palestinian self-determination and statehood. These efforts helped pave the way for the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
Pakistan’s key demands were also reiterated. Islamabad called for full implementation of Resolution 2803, strict enforcement of the ceasefire, zero tolerance for unilateral actions, unhindered humanitarian access, and the immediate reconstruction of Gaza. Pakistan further urged an end to settlement expansion and forced displacement in the West Bank, accountability for serious violations of international law, and the launch of a credible, time-bound political process based on UN resolutions to establish a sovereign, independent, and territorially connected Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Iftikhar stressed that the time has come to turn commitments into concrete action, reaffirming that Pakistan stands firmly with the Palestinian people in their struggle for dignity, justice, and the right to self-determination.
In a related development, the Security Council on 18 November adopted a US-drafted resolution endorsing President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan and authorizing an international stabilization force for the territory. Eight Muslim countries, including Pakistan, supported the plan, which aims to enforce the ceasefire, protect civilians, and begin Gaza’s reconstruction. Pakistan’s Foreign Office also strongly condemned Israel’s continued violations of the ceasefire.
