Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called for urgent global attention to Israeli settler violence and annexation policies in the occupied West Bank, as well as violations of the Gaza ceasefire, describing such acts as “flagrant violations of international law”.
Speaking at a meeting of the OIC Committee of Six on Palestine in New York on Monday, Dar said the Palestinian cause remained “central to the OIC and the collective conscience of the Muslim Ummah”.
“The Committee of Six has an important responsibility to mobilise political and diplomatic support for the Palestinian people and to ensure that the international community does not lose sight of their legitimate and inalienable rights,” he noted.
He said the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, both in Gaza and the West Bank, continued to demand “urgent and immediate attention”, with the humanitarian situation remaining dire and the security environment “extremely fragile”.
“Our recent diplomatic efforts have created an opportunity to advance a critical process. Serious challenges still remain,” Dar said, adding that the Gaza ceasefire was being violated “on an almost daily basis”.
He appreciated the efforts of mediating countries, including the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye, towards implementing the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict, as endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
Dar said Israeli settlement activity, settler violence, annexation policies and other violations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continued to threaten the “territorial integrity and contiguity” of the occupied Palestinian territory and undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state.
Pakistan, he said, continued to “strongly condemn” Israeli violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Haram Al-Sharif, including incursions by extremist settlers.
“These acts are flagrant violations of international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the historical and legal status quo governing the Holy Sites,” he said.
Dar said the ongoing situation required “renewed, coordinated diplomatic action” by the OIC and its member states, adding that the committee should continue to work on six points.
The first was to safeguard the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Al-Haram Al-Sharif and other Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
Second, reject Israel’s illegal settlement expansion, annexation, settler violence and forced displacement in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.
Third, support the full and faithful implementation of the Gaza peace plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
Fourth, ensure that reconstruction and governance arrangements in Gaza remain Palestinian-led, with a central role for the Palestinian Authority.
Fifth, support accountability for violations of international law and international humanitarian law; further strengthen coordination among OIC member states in other international forums to protect the Palestinian people and uphold international law.
Finally, maintain sustained international efforts towards a credible, irreversible and time-bound political process leading to the establishment of an independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, while also supporting Palestine’s full membership of the United Nations.
“As members of the OIC Committee of Six, we have a particular responsibility to translate our collective solidarity into sustained and coordinated diplomatic efforts,” Dar stressed.
“Pakistan’s solidarity with the Palestinian people remains steadfast and unwavering. We will continue to work with brotherly and partner countries to advance the Palestinian cause and contribute to a just and lasting resolution of the question of Palestine, in line with international legitimacy,” he affirmed.
The Foreign Office (FO) later shared a statement outlining DPM Dar’s remarks at the meeting.
The remarks come amid renewed Israeli settlement expansion and rising settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
Israel has recently added 2,167 housing units to its E1 settlement plan, bringing the total planned units to 3,401, a move that Palestinians and several countries have criticised as threatening the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state.
The UN has also reported a sharp rise in settler attacks. More than 1,600 incidents resulting in Palestinian casualties or property damage were recorded across 275 communities between January and September 14, while more than 2,600 Palestinians had been displaced in the context of settler violence and related access restrictions.
Dar meets with Libyan FM
Separately, in a meeting with Libya’s acting foreign minister, Al-Taher Al-Baour, Dar discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral ties, particularly in trade, education and business-to-business exchanges, FO said in a statement.
During the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the two sides exchanged views on “regional and international developments, including the evolving situation in the Middle East”, FO said.
The Libyan foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive diplomatic efforts” for regional peace and stability, according to the FO.
DPM Dar underscored that “dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable means of addressing regional challenges” and stressed the need for all parties to return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance regional stability, the statement added.
Dar meets with Japanese FM
Dar also held a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, during which the two discussed ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, education, health, the automobile sector and digital IT cooperation, the FO said in a statement.
They also exchanged views on “regional and international developments, including the situation in the Middle East”.
Motegi appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic and mediation efforts in support of regional peace and stability, the FO added.
Both sides expressed hope that all parties would return to dialogue and pursue implementation of the Islamabad MoU. They also discussed the implications of the situation for energy supplies, supply chains and the global economy, according to the FO.
The two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the momentum of bilateral engagement and further expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest, the statement added.
