New York (TDI): Pakistan has made a strong pitch for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations and called for an immediate end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, urging the world to act decisively to uphold international law and humanitarian values.
Speaking at a high-level international conference on Palestine at the UN, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called for a permanent ceasefire, unrestricted access for humanitarian aid, and accountability for violations of international norms.
“The blockade of aid and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, refugee camps, hospitals, aid convoys, have crossed every red line of legality and humanity,” Dar said, addressing the conference titled “International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.
“This collective punishment must stop now!” he declared. Dar welcomed the growing recognition of Palestinian statehood by European countries, especially France, and urged others to follow suit. “We encourage countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so and strengthen the global momentum for justice.”
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He described Gaza as a “graveyard of international law,” citing the deaths of over 58,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom were women and children, as a clear violation of UN resolutions, international humanitarian law, and International Court of Justice measures.
Beyond political solidarity, Dar said Pakistan was ready to provide tangible support to help rebuild Palestinian institutions and deliver essential services.
“We are prepared to offer technical assistance and capacity-building in public administration, health, education, and service delivery, in close coordination with Palestinian leadership,” he said.
He further expressed Islamabad’s readiness to participate in institution-building efforts and international protection mechanisms, including under the Arab-OIC Plan. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” Dar concluded. “But when justice is denied for generations, the consequences are far more severe.”
“It’s time to give the Palestinian people hope. It’s time for freedom, self-determination, and full statehood. Palestine’s membership of the United Nations will be the strongest guarantee of lasting peace in the region.”
The conference was opened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who made a stark appeal for urgency. “The world must act now to make the two-state solution a reality,” Guterres said, warning that the scale of destruction in Gaza was intolerable and that “there can be no justification for erasing Gaza from the map.”
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He described the conference as a potential turning point and an opportunity to revive serious efforts toward peace.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot echoed these sentiments, stating that the war in Gaza must end — but added that a ceasefire alone is not enough.
“We must follow that with genuine political progress. A two-state solution is the only viable path forward. There is no Plan B,” Barrot warned, emphasizing the risk to regional peace and the need for direct dialogue.
Notably, both the United States and Israel did not attend the conference. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce criticized the timing of the event, saying it could “complicate” ongoing efforts for peace.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
