Pakistan urges UN Security Council to act swiftly to stop Israel’s assault on Gaza

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, a senior Pakistani diplomat has urged the UN Security Council to take immediate action to halt Israel’s “brutal and illegal war” and end the immense suffering of the Palestinian people, particularly children in the besieged territory.

Addressing a session of the 15-member Council on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the world is witnessing a tragedy unfold in real time.

“The global community watches in disbelief,” he said, adding that Israel’s military campaign has overwhelmingly targeted civilians, leaving devastation in its wake. “Nothing can justify the indiscriminate killings, starvation of an entire population, and collective punishment of a besieged people.”

Ambassador Asim stressed that such actions are not only morally indefensible but also represent serious violations of international law, including the Geneva Conventions, and defy binding orders issued by the International Court of Justice.

While calling for an end to the war, he also urged the immediate release of Israeli hostages, stating that their detention violates international law.

He referenced the Council’s testimony from Ilay David, whose brother Eyvatar David is among 48 hostages still held in Gaza, expressing hope for their safe return.

Highlighting the scale of the destruction, the ambassador stated that over 60,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, including at least 18,500 children.

“Palestinian children have been killed at a rate of more than one per hour since the war began,” he added.

He also noted that roughly 9,500 Palestinians, including many women and children, remain imprisoned — about one-third without formal charges or trial.

Ambassador Asim drew attention to the devastating impact of the ongoing Israeli blockade, reporting that at least 175 Palestinians, including 93 children, have died from starvation.

The delivery of aid has also become increasingly dangerous, with more than 1,200 aid-related deaths recorded since May.

“This war on civilians must stop,” he stressed.

Pakistan, he said, calls for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the release of all hostages, and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid.

He also criticized Israel’s unilateral termination of a ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States — which had led to the release of 33 hostages — saying that further progress was blocked as a result.

Ambassador Asim urged the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which offers a practical roadmap for ending hostilities and delivering urgently needed aid.

He emphasized that lasting peace in the region requires addressing the root cause of the conflict — Israel’s prolonged and illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. “As long as this occupation continues, peace will remain out of reach,” he said.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution, calling for the establishment of a sovereign, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital.

Earlier in the meeting, UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca also stressed the need for a political solution to the crisis in Gaza that can pave the way for lasting peace.

Briefing the Council at a session requested by Israel to discuss the situation of remaining hostages, Jenca emphasized that all detainees must be treated with dignity and allowed visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Describing the situation in Gaza as “horrific and unbearable,” he said Palestinians are enduring squalid and inhumane conditions daily. Humanitarian assistance, he added, remains severely restricted, and what little aid does enter is far from sufficient.

“Hunger is visible everywhere — in the faces of children and the desperation of parents risking their lives for basic supplies,” he told the Council, echoing the UN Secretary-General’s condemnation of violence, including the killing and wounding of civilians seeking food.

“International law is clear: civilians must be protected and never deliberately deprived of essential aid — such acts amount to war crimes,” he said, calling on Israel to immediately allow rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief into Gaza.

Jenca also voiced concern over reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may expand military operations throughout the entire Gaza Strip, warning that such a move could have catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and further jeopardize the lives of hostages.

Referring to the recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, Jenca reiterated that Gaza is and must remain an integral part of any future Palestinian state.

He noted the ICJ’s directive that Israel must halt settlement activity, evacuate settlers from occupied territories, and end its unlawful presence as swiftly as possible.

He concluded by reaffirming the UN’s stance: only a full and lasting ceasefire, the immediate release of hostages, and unimpeded humanitarian access can end the violence and prevent further tragedy in Gaza.