ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday called for the immediate halt of Israel’s military hostilities in Gaza, reiterating Islamabad’s stance of supporting a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis at the regional Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China.
Sharif’s statement at the 25th Council of Heads of State summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tianjin came as Israel pushes ahead with the initial stages of a new military offensive in Gaza. At least 63,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, as per the Gaza Health Ministry.
“We reiterate our call for an immediate end to this gruesome violence and heart wrenching bloodshed in Gaza,” Sharif said. “Pakistan has consistently supported the UN-mandated two-state solution that is the creation of an independent state of Palestine with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”
Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies into Gaza since Israel began its military operations there nearly two years ago have led to shortages of food and essential supplies, including medicine and fuel, which hospitals require to power their generators.
