Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Pakistan’s interim Prime Minister, called on Monday for the “immediate ceasefire and lifting of the blockade on Gaza” amid nationwide demonstrations across Pakistan against military strikes of Israel on the Palestinian enclave.
In a social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Kakar said, “Pakistan is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence and loss of life in Gaza. We stand in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine and call for an immediate ceasefire and lifting of the blockade in Gaza.”
“Israel’s deliberate, indiscriminate, and disproportionate targeting of civilians in Gaza is against all norms of civility and in manifest violation of international law. The breakout of violence needs to be seen in the context of years of forced and illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and repressive policies against its people,” he added.
The interim PM said Pakistan was closely coordinating with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and its member states on the fast-deteriorating situation in Gaza, and that the foreign minister will attend the upcoming OIC meeting to call for “urgent action to alleviate the suffering of people of Gaza.”
Thousands of people across Pakistan took to the streets staging marches and rallies in solidarity with Palestinians and condemning the Israeli blockade on Gaza, the Tribune newspaper reported.
Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas in revenge for the militant group’s unprecedented attack into Israeli towns backed up with a barrage of rockets.
Israel responded to the shocking invasion with a total siege around the Gaza Strip and bombarded the enclave with an unparalleled barrage of air strikes. Thousands have died and scores more were wounded among Palestinians and Israelis.
