Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Sunday that Pakistan has dispatched its eighth batch of humanitarian aid for Gaza by sea. The aid, weighing 400 tonnes, includes winterized tents, blankets, medicines, and food supplies.
The shipment is set to be received by the Pakistani Ambassador to Egypt at Port Said, who will then hand it over to the Egyptian Red Crescent for distribution among the people of Gaza. Minister Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of the people in Gaza.
Since the conflict in Palestine erupted on October 7, 2023, Pakistan has consistently condemned Israeli actions and has been sending aid for Gaza regularly.
On April 19, Pakistan expressed regret over the United States’ veto of a draft resolution seeking Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations (UN). The UN Security Council failed to reach a consensus on the matter, with the US vetoing the resolution despite receiving widespread support from other member states.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, emphasized Pakistan’s disappointment with the veto, stating that it believes the time has come for Palestine’s admission to the UN. She stressed the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and called for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Jerusalem as its capital.
Baloch also highlighted discussions on Palestine during the recent summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Gambia. She mentioned efforts by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to call for de-escalation, ceasefire, and the lifting of the siege in Gaza.
The spokesperson emphasized that the main obstacle to implementing the ceasefire is the Israeli occupation authorities.