Pakistan demands deployment of international force to protect Palestinians

By Abid Siddique Chaudhry 

NEW YORK : Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has revealed the situation in Gaza to the world and said that Israel is massacring unarmed Palestinians. The General Assembly should deploy an international force to protect the Palestinians.

 

In his domineering address to the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi exercised the right to represent not only the Pakistani nation but the entire Islamic world. He said dozens of Palestinians, including women and children, had been killed and wounded in Israeli airstrikes. Israel has put an end to atrocities against the oppressed Palestinians. There is a severe shortage of food in Gaza. Arrangements should be made to send food to Gaza on an emergency basis.

 

The foreign minister said that the Israeli bombing of Gaza was responsible for every martyrdom. The time has come to tell Israel to stop. The quest for equality between the Palestinians and Israel is wrong, it is a conflict between the oppressor and the oppressed.

 

“We must provide all possible humanitarian assistance to Gaza and occupied Palestine,” he said. The United Nations should develop a comprehensive plan for the delivery of humanitarian aid. The General Assembly should deploy an international force to protect the Palestinians. Civilian observers from countries that are ready can be sent to Palestine.

 

Shah Mehmood Qureshi in his speech said that this is a historic stage, which will be remembered in history. Israel has put an end to barbarism in occupied Palestine. Children and women are being martyred in Palestine. Evidence is taking place in every house in Gaza. Israel martyred 8 children and 2 women of Abu Hatab family.

 

He apprised the world of the deteriorating situation in Palestine and said that so far more than 50,000 Palestinians have been displaced and there is no access to clean drinking water. Gaza is plunged into darkness.

 

The foreign minister said the only light in Gaza was the Israeli bombings. Buildings have been destroyed by Israeli bombing. We, the representatives of Islamic countries, have come to speak for them. The Security Council has failed to meet its primary responsibility and call for an end to aggression. Now that the General Assembly is fulfilling its responsibility, stopping Israeli barbarism should be our first priority.

 

In his address, the Foreign Minister called on the General Assembly to condemn the forced eviction of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah. Israel must end its occupation of the occupied territories. The General Assembly should send a clear message to Israel. I conclude with the words of the revolutionary poet of Pakistan, “I am also present in the land of Palestine.”

 

Earlier, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in a key meeting with the UN President, reiterated Pakistan’s demand for Israel to abide by international humanitarian law and an immediate ceasefire.

 

Shah Mehmood had an important meeting with the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Walken Bozker, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. During the meeting, various issues including Palestine, Occupied Kashmir situation, Corona epidemic challenge were discussed.

 

The Foreign Minister lauded the dynamic leadership of the President of the General Assembly in convening an emergency session of the General Assembly on Palestine.

 

Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that we expect that this emergency session of the UN General Assembly will send a clear message to the rest of the UN agencies, especially the Security Council, whose primary responsibility is to establish world peace and security. He said that the entire Pakistani nation is deeply concerned over the ongoing Israeli aggression on the oppressed Palestinians.

 

The Foreign Minister apprised the President of the General Assembly of the grave human rights violations in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the extrajudicial killings of Kashmiri youth and the detention of their leadership.

 

The Foreign Minister expressed deep concern over the martyrdom of the Chairman Hurriyat Movement of Jammu and Kashmir on behalf of Pakistan. The Foreign Minister stressed the need for a just and prompt resolution of the Kashmir issue to ensure peace in South Asia.

 

He apprised the President of the General Assembly of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s suggestions for tackling the economic implications of the global epidemic and stressed the need for effective global efforts to curb the spread of the epidemic.

 

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also invited President General Assembly Mr. Walkin Bozkar to pay an early visit to Pakistan.

 

The Foreign Minister hosted a dinner in honor of the Foreign Ministers who attended the emergency session of the UN General Assembly on Palestine.

 

The dinner was hosted at the Pakistani Embassy in New York. The dinner was attended by the Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Palestine and Tunisia, as well as the President of the General Assembly Walker Bozkar and the Permanent Representatives of the OIC countries to the United Nations.

 

Addressing a reception on the occasion, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the barbaric attacks on unarmed Palestinians and serious human rights violations pose grave threats to law and order. He called for concerted efforts to address this new human tragedy.

 

The Foreign Minister briefed the distinguished guests on the diplomatic efforts made by Pakistan for the establishment of peace in Palestine. They also held detailed consultations to adopt a joint strategy in the emergency session of the UN General Assembly and to draw the attention of the internation al community to the plight of Palestine.