Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, delivered an emotional address during a United Nations General Assembly debate, condemning the Security Council’s inaction amidst the Gaza crisis. The situation in Gaza reached a critical point when a draft resolution, intended to halt the violence and facilitate humanitarian aid, was vetoed, leaving millions trapped in dire conditions.
Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, aligning with a Danish initiative on behalf of the ten elected members of the Security Council, voiced collective frustration over the Council’s inaction. The resolution was aimed at alleviating the suffering of a population caught in the conflict, but its obstruction has left a path of devastation, with over 66,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, enduring ongoing violence.
The ambassador painted a grim picture of Gaza, where systemic destruction and a humanitarian crisis have engulfed the region. Families are searching for the missing amidst the rubble, while hunger and famine threaten to grip cities like Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Deir al-Balah. Ambassador Ahmad stressed the need to hold Israel accountable for the destruction of a nation’s future, describing it not just as a war but a deliberate effort to extinguish Palestinian aspirations.
During the General Assembly debate, the plight of Gaza remained a central focus, with growing calls for a sustainable solution to the Palestinian issue. Ambassador Ahmad highlighted encouraging developments, including President Trump’s recent consultations with Arab and OIC leaders, and the announcement of a U.S. plan to achieve an immediate ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian aid. These steps, welcomed by the international community, offer a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
In a joint communiqué, the foreign ministers of several countries, including Pakistan, expressed their support for President Trump’s efforts and reiterated their commitment to a comprehensive agreement to end the Gaza conflict. The proposed agreement aims to ensure unrestricted humanitarian aid, prevent forced displacement, facilitate the release of hostages, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, all within the framework of a two-state solution.
Ambassador Ahmad outlined five immediate demands from the UN forum: an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of blockades to allow humanitarian aid, the release of hostages, an end to settlement expansion, and a credible political process for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders. These demands aim to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region, recognizing the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and freedom.
Ambassador Ahmad reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and called for decisive action to restore faith in humanity and achieve lasting peace in the Middle East. The international community’s response will serve as a test of its commitment to justice and the pursuit of peace for a region long engulfed in conflict.