Pakistan has urged the United Nations Security Council to set a definitive and irrevocable timeline for the creation of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, calling for a permanent end to the Israeli occupation.
Addressing a Security Council meeting on the Middle East in New York, Pakistan’s Acting Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, said lasting peace in the region would remain elusive as long as the occupation continues and the Palestinian people are denied their right to self-determination.
Two-State Solution Called the Only Viable Path
Reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, Jadoon stressed that the internationally supported two-state solution remains the essential foundation for a just and lasting peace. He noted that the question of Palestine drew significant attention during the General Assembly’s High-Level Week, where statements reflected broad support for a two-state outcome.
The Pakistani envoy cautioned, however, that political commitments must be matched by concrete measures to safeguard the territorial integrity and viability of a future Palestinian state.
Resolution 2803 and the New York Declaration
Jadoon described Security Council Resolution 2803, the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict, and the New York Declaration as mutually reinforcing frameworks for advancing peace. He warned that Israeli actions on the ground were undermining international efforts and making a viable Palestinian state increasingly difficult to establish.
Settlement Expansion and Settler Violence Condemned
Expressing particular concern over the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jadoon singled out the proposed E1 settlement project as a threat to the territorial contiguity of Palestinian lands. He condemned settler violence, home demolitions, land seizures and forced evictions, saying such actions were entrenching annexation and weakening the prospects for peace.
Pakistan called for:
- An immediate halt to all settlement activities in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2334
- An end to settler violence
- Accountability for those responsible
Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Status of Holy Sites
Jadoon also condemned what he described as provocative and illegal incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, known as Al-Haram al-Sharif, calling for the preservation of the historical and legal status of the holy sites. Protecting these sites, he said, was essential amid continuing tensions in the region.
Gaza: Ceasefire, Aid and Reconstruction
Turning to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the Pakistani representative voiced concern over persistent ceasefire violations, the killing of Palestinian civilians and restrictions on aid deliveries. He warned that the onset of winter could further worsen conditions for Palestinians already facing severe hardship.
He called for the full implementation of the ceasefire, the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance on a large scale and the immediate launch of recovery and reconstruction efforts. Jadoon also underscored the indispensable role of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the importance of supporting its operations.
Pakistan, he said, rejects forced evictions and any attempt to fragment Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, maintaining that these territories constitute a single, unified Palestinian entity. He further called for the release of withheld Palestinian revenues so the Palestinian Authority can carry out its responsibilities and provide essential services.
Support for Saudi Arabia and Yemen Peace Efforts
In his address, Jadoon condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and its civilian and economic infrastructure, calling for an immediate cessation of such actions. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its right to self-defence under international law.
On Yemen, he expressed support for the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to resume negotiations aimed at securing a comprehensive and lasting peace. Pakistan’s remarks underscored its call for renewed international efforts to address the Palestinian question, alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and pursue diplomatic solutions to conflicts across the Middle East.
