NEW YORK CITY: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for an immediate halt to the ongoing Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip, describing it as a “systematic slaughter” and “bloodshed.”
He made these remarks during the plenary meeting of the UN General Debate, where he was the second speaker at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
“This is not merely a conflict; it is a systematic slaughter of innocent Palestinians,” he stated, condemning Israel’s actions. He emphasized that the bloodshed in Gaza is not only the responsibility of the oppressors but also those who are complicit in prolonging this cruel conflict.
PM Sharif lamented that humanity is diminished when the “endless suffering” of Palestinians goes unacknowledged. “It is not enough to condemn; we must act now and demand an immediate end to this bloodshed,” he urged, asserting that the sacrifices of innocent Palestinians will not be in vain. He called for solidarity with their plight and difficulties.
He insisted that the international community must strive for lasting peace in Palestine through a two-state solution and demanded the immediate admission of Palestine as a full member of the UN.
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Expressing the “searing pain and anguish” of Pakistanis over the situation in Gaza, he said, “Our hearts bleed as we witness this unfolding tragedy in the holy land—a tragedy that shakes the very consciousness of humanity and the foundation of this institution.” He questioned how the world could remain silent while “children lie buried under the rubble of their shattered homes” and while mothers cradle the lifeless bodies of their children.
In his address, PM Sharif remarked that it was a “great honor” to speak at the UNGA for the second time as Pakistan’s prime minister. He highlighted the pressing challenges facing the world today: Israel’s actions in Gaza, conflicts in Ukraine and across Africa and Asia, rising geopolitical tensions, resurgent terrorism, rampant poverty, crippling debt, and the escalating effects of climate change. “We feel the chill of a new world order,” he stated.
The Prime Minister also said that Israel’s relentless bombing of Lebanon has claimed over 500 lives in just a few days.
He warned that the failure to enforce UN resolutions has emboldened Israel and risks dragging the entire Middle East into a war with potentially catastrophic consequences.