Pakistan has called for a permanent end to the Israeli occupation and asked the international community to set a clear and irreversible timeframe for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State on the basis of pre-1967 boundaries, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Addressing a United Nations Security Council meeting on the Middle East, Pakistan’s acting permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, said “lasting peace in the region will remain elusive unless the occupation ends and the Palestinian people are allowed to exercise their right to self-determination.”

He reiterated Pakistan’s sympathy with the people of Palestine and highlighted that the two-state solution, endorsed by the international community, remained the key to a just and enduring peace.

Jadoon said that during the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly, the issue of Palestine gained a lot of attention, and the talks and remarks showed widespread support for a two-state solution. But he stressed that political commitments had to be followed up with actual steps to ensure the geographical integrity and viability of a future Palestinian state.

Pakistan cautions against expansion of settlements

The Pakistani envoy added that the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza war, UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the New York Declaration provided mutually reinforcing frameworks for pursuing peace. But he warned that Israeli actions on the ground were undermining international efforts and risked making it harder to establish a sustainable Palestinian state.

He was especially concerned about the growth of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and pointed out that the E1 settlement project would jeopardize the territorial contiguity of Palestinian territories. He also condemned settler violence, home demolitions, land grabs and forceful evictions, saying such activities were entrenching annexation and undercutting the hopes for peace. Pakistan demanded the immediate cessation of all settlement operations in compliance with UNSC resolution 2334, an end to settler violence and accountability for the perpetrators.

Call to Protect Al-Aqsa Mosque:

Jadoon has also criticized aggressive and unlawful invasions to Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as Al-Haram al-Sharif, and advocated for preservation of the historical and legal status of the sacred places. “These sites need to be protected because the tensions in the region are still there,” he said.

Gaza: Urgent Action Needed

The Pakistani delegate voiced alarm at the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, citing continued violations of the ceasefire, death of Palestinian civilians and restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian assistance. He cautioned that the coming of winter could worsen situations for Palestinians already suffering harsh hardships. Jadoon demanded thorough implementation of the ceasefire, unhindered large-scale supply of humanitarian assistance and fast start of rehabilitation and reconstruction.

He also underlined the critical necessity of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and the need to support its humanitarian activities. He said Pakistan was against forcible evictions and any move to partition Gaza and the West Bank and East Jerusalem, saying these areas are one and indivisible Palestinian entity. He also asked for the release of Palestinian income being withheld to enable the Palestinian Authority to perform its duties and provide critical services.

Pakistan reiterates support to Saudi Arabia’s efforts for peace in Yemen

Jadoon, in his address, criticized the Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and its civilian and commercial infrastructure and called for an immediate end of such acts. He reiterated Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity and its right to self-defense against external assaults under international law.

The Pakistani delegate voiced support for the efforts undertaken by the UN Special Envoy to resume negotiations toward the achievement of a comprehensive and durable peace. Pakistan’s remarks highlighted its need for fresh international efforts to resolve the Palestinian question, alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and seek diplomatic solutions to disputes across the Middle East.