STAFF REPORT
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the Israeli cabinet’s approval of a plan to assume “illegal and illegitimate” control of Gaza, calling it a dangerous escalation in an already catastrophic war against Palestinians. In a statement posted on X, the premier warned that the expansion of military operations in Gaza would deepen the ongoing humanitarian crisis and derail any prospect for peace in the region. PM Shehbaz stressed that the root cause of the tragedy lay in Israel’s prolonged and illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, adding that peace would remain elusive as long as this occupation continued. Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people, he reiterated their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in line with United Nations and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation resolutions. The prime minister urged the international community to act urgently to halt Israel’s “unwarranted aggression”, safeguard civilian lives, and facilitate the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.The premier’s remarks come after Israel’s military said that it will “take control” of Gaza City under a new plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, touching off a wave of criticism Friday from both inside and outside the country. Nearly two years into the war in Gaza, Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a truce to pull the territory’s more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the captives held by Israel’s foe Hamas. The group also denounced the plan to expand the fighting as a “new war crime”, while staunch Israeli ally Germany took the extraordinary step of halting military exports out of concern they could be used in gaza.
