Pakistan has issued an urgent appeal to the United Nations Security Council, demanding immediate international intervention to fully implement the fragile Gaza ceasefire and halt the expansion of Israeli settlements. The warning comes amid growing evidence that the truce has failed to stem a deepening humanitarian disaster.
A Ceasefire in Name Only
Speaking during a Security Council open debate on the Middle East, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, painted a grim picture of life in Gaza. He revealed that more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire came into effect, challenging the notion that the agreement has brought meaningful peace.
“The situation on the ground remains catastrophic,” Ahmad stated. He highlighted that nearly two million Palestinians are now squeezed into roughly 30% of the Gaza Strip. This severe confinement is being compounded by reports of a large earthen barrier being constructed across the territory, which Pakistan fears signals a move to entrench Israeli occupation over the remaining 70% of Gaza.
Rejecting Forced Displacement and Annexation
The Pakistani envoy urged the Security Council to take a firm stand against actions that alter the demographic and geographic reality of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He explicitly called for the council to reject any efforts aimed at annexation or the forced displacement of Palestinians.
Ahmad demanded an immediate cessation of all Israeli settlement activities, framing them as a primary obstacle to a viable two-state solution. He stressed that the international community must move beyond statements and ensure accountability for violations that continue to fuel the cycle of violence.
- Over 1,100 Palestinians reported killed since the ceasefire began.
- Nearly 2 million people confined to a shrinking portion of Gaza.
- Construction of a new earthen barrier raises fears of permanent occupation.
The debate highlighted the widening gap between diplomatic truce agreements and the harsh reality for civilians on the ground, with Pakistan positioning itself as a vocal advocate for immediate, concrete action to preserve the viability of a Palestinian state.
