On International Day of Solidarity With the Palestinian People
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is an annual reminder of Palestinians’ ongoing struggle and the urgent need for global action to address continuous violations of their rights. Recent events, Israel’s war in Gaza, have heightened calls for justice, peace, and recognition of the Palestinian people’s basic rights. Pakistan stands strongly in sympathy with the oppressed Palestinians, pushing for justice, peace, and their fundamental rights.
Rallies organized around the world, from Iran to Europe to Spain, reflect the global outrage over Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza. The rallying cry “Palestine is not alone” echoes across the streets of Karachi, Tehran, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Vienna, Berlin, and beyond. This highlights a common desire for an end to the Palestinian people’s suffering.
Remembering the History
A historical context is essential for understanding the current situation and charting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from World War I to the present. Historical events such as the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the proposed United Nations Partition Plan of 1947 laid the groundwork for the protracted conflict. The Six-Day War in 1967 was a watershed moment for Israel, as it captured all of historic Palestine, causing more displacement and turmoil.
The Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995 were intended to build a foundation for peace, but the promises of a two-state solution and control transfer to the Palestinian Authority were never completely achieved. Israeli settlement expansion, an obvious violation of international law, has continued uninterrupted, hindering the route to a peaceful resolution.
Human rights violations and illegal Israeli settlements continue in the divided regions of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem today. For the past 16 years, the Gaza Strip has been subjected to an illegal embargo, severely affecting the basic rights and well-being of over two million residents.
Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law, control 40% of the occupied land in the West Bank. The installation of a Separation Wall, checkpoints, and settler-only roads has fractured the terrain, limiting Palestinians’ freedom of movement and intensifying the issues they face on a daily basis.
Israel’s Brutality
Israel’s alleged war crimes in Gaza in August 2022, which resulted in the deaths of innocent people and widespread destruction, necessitate a strong international response. The pattern of Israeli bombardment in Gaza reflects their sinister motive of creating a buffer zone through the concrete jungle of Gaza. The rehabilitation expenses of Gaza are beyond the capacity of Palestine. Unless the international donor community can come up with a middle ground on extreme rehabilitation efforts and heavy aid, this will always remain rubble.
The New York Times confirmed, “even a conservative reading of casualty figures reported from Gaza show that the pace of death during Israeli campaign has few precedents in the century.” According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), between October 7 and 27, at least 29 journalists were killed, making it the bloodiest period for journalists since CPJ began tracking in 1992. As of November 16, at least 42 journalists and media staffers had been killed, emphasizing the terrible conditions in which media professionals operate in the region.
Furthermore, beginning October 7, 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been referred by five countries—South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti—to examine major war crimes committed in Palestine. The ICC’s current investigation, which began in March 2021, focuses on war crimes committed in Gaza and the West Bank since June 2014. South Africa has called for a cease-fire and accused Israel of war crimes, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disputes the claims and opposes the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Pakistan’s Stance
Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine, recognizing the shared humanitarian struggle for freedom, akin to the plight of the people in Kashmir. Witnessing the heinous acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Israel, Pakistan is deeply alarmed by the immense suffering of the Palestinian people and how the Gaza Strip reminds Pakistan about the continued suffering of people in Indian Occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan unequivocally condemns these atrocities against Palestine civilians and calls for an immediate and lasting resolution to this genocide. Emphasizing the urgency of a permanent ceasefire, Pakistan urges the global community to unite in ensuring justice, respecting human rights, and fulfilling its collective responsibility to bring an end to the protracted suffering of the Palestinian people.
Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to the cause of justice, peace, and rights of the Palestinian people as it honors the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. It also calls for the strict application of international law, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, to bring Israel in line with its legal commitments and to hold those responsible accountable for the heinous crimes. The international community must not ignore historical injustices, ongoing transgressions, and the critical need for a meaningful and enduring resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Policy Wire’s policy.
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