THE OIC Summit has emphasized that regional peace is contingent on ending Israeli occupation of all Arab territories. Saudi Prime Minister and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman has called for a truce in Palestine and Lebanon and urged Israel to respect Iran’s territorial sovereignty, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned Israel’s barbaric attacks on Palestine and Lebanon, calling for an arms embargo on Israel. Regretting the international community’s deafening silence over the systematic genocide of Palestinian people, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for immediate action to safeguard the inalienable rights of the oppressed Palestinians by ensuring establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine. The Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman also called on butcher Israel to respect Iran’s sovereignty and refrain from attacking Iranian soil, highlighting warming ties between the Middle East rivals. Muhammad bin Salman has warned Israel about the consequences of the Middle Eastern situation. Muslims are duty bound by their religion and conscience to stand resolutely with the people of Palestine. We should not let this genocide and oppression to persist.
Premier Shehbaz Sharif made strong remarks at the joint Arab League and OIC summit in Riyadh after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman demanded an immediate halt to the Israeli torrential devastating attacks against our brothers in Palestine and Lebanon and condemned the Israeli campaign in Palestine as genocide. Pakistan strongly condemns Israel’s recent strikes against Iran as an outright violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We equally need to denounce Israel’s ongoing aggression against Lebanon and stand in complete solidarity with its people. Such escalations by Israel constitute a dangerous threat that could unleash a broader war. Silence of the international community, which shut its eyes in the face of such crimes, is itself a crime. The atrocities being committed against Palestinians is rightfully genocide. With each passing day, every moral code has been flagrantly violated by Israel, yet the killing and destruction continue with no end in sight.
The extraordinary important Summit called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, impose an immediate arms embargo on Israel and lifting of Israel’s blockade against Palestine, ensuring prompt delivery of food, water, electricity and medical aid. In a joint statement it is also demanded that Israel must be held accountable for its war crimes. The world wants to know how long this annihilation be ignored. Israel has been emboldened with the international community’s indifference and inaction. There has been an utter disregard for humanity’s repeated calls for a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian relief and protection of civilians. Pakistan needs to continuously stand firm in its commitment to Palestinians and their right to self-determination. We Pakistanis reiterate our unwavering support to establish an independent, viable and contiguous state of Palestine with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital based upon its pre-1967 borders. It is the only avenue for justice and durable peace in the holy land. International laws which were meant to protect the vulnerable had been torn to shreds. Humanity is being tested and failing while Palestine bleeds, the world watches in deafening silence.
The recent summit revealed unprecedented statement of strength and solidarity by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman in favour of Iran. The statement really jolted Washington and Tel Aviv. Unfortunately, the Muslim world is divided in Saudi and Iranian blocs. MBS’s uttered words gave unbelievable new life to the Muslim Ummah. United you stand, divided you fall. Week and divided Muslim Ummah can’t resolve its complex conflicts. This time strong words of MBS will really matter a lot. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan can lead and strengthen Muslim Ummah. Shehbaz Sharif’s strong statement in favour of Palestine and Lebanon has won hearts of the nation. Strong political, diplomatic and economic moves of Muslim countries can really shatter Israel and the perpetrators. Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from occupied Palestinian territories is a precondition for regional peace. A just and comprehensive peace in the region cannot be achieved without ending the Israeli occupation of all occupied Arab territories to the line of June 4, 1967 referring to the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem as well as Gaza and the Golan Heights. The UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from these areas, and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, in which Arab nations offered Israel normalised ties in return for a peaceful agreement with the Palestinians along the 1967 lines. Importantly, Saudi Arabia affirms its support for the brothers in Palestine and Lebanon to overcome the disastrous humanitarian consequences of the ongoing Israeli aggression.
—The writer is author of several books based in Islamabad.
