UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has urged the immediate implementation of the Gaza Reconstruction Plan, supported by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab Group.
At a gathering of diplomats in New York, convened to prepare for a global conference in June aimed at advancing the two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict, Pakistan underscored the importance of addressing the root cause: Israel’s prolonged occupation.
“Ending the occupation is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace,” said Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN. He was speaking at the preparatory meeting, which brought together UN member states to finalize eight roundtables for the upcoming conference.
“This conference is both urgent and necessary,” he said, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, the suffering of the Palestinian people, and Israel’s systematic undermining of the two-state solution through illegal settlements and unilateral actions.
Steps to Protect Palestinian Statehood
The conference will take place at the UN headquarters in New York from June 17 to 20. It was mandated by a UN General Assembly resolution adopted in December 2024 and will be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.
Ambassador Iftikhar emphasized that, ahead of the conference, it is essential to fully restore the ceasefire in Gaza, lift the blockade, guarantee unhindered humanitarian access—including through UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees—and protect both civilians and humanitarian workers.
He cautioned against any moves to forcibly displace Palestinians, annex territory, or impose militarized aid mechanisms, calling for such actions to be firmly rejected.
Key Measures for the Conference
To preserve the viability of a Palestinian state, he said the conference must also establish a mechanism to monitor and ensure the enforcement of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, especially those that declare settlements illegal and support Palestine’s full UN membership. He reiterated Pakistan’s call to operationalise the Gaza Reconstruction Plan supported by the OIC and Arab Group, and to prioritize projects like a Gaza-West Bank transit corridor, the reconstruction of Gaza’s seaport, and new industrial zones to promote territorial continuity and Palestinian unity.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for a just and lasting solution based on international law and UN resolutions, he reiterated the country’s commitment to the pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds as the capital of a sovereign Palestinian state.
“This conference must be a turning point that delivers real results,” he told delegates. “Pakistan stands ready to support this conference and contribute to a credible political horizon for a two-state solution—one that ends the occupation, upholds Palestinian rights, and brings lasting peace through a viable, sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Global Urgency for Action
Earlier, UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang called on member states to seize the opportunity to make real progress.
“The horrors we’ve seen in Gaza for over 19 months must drive us to act urgently to end this conflict,” he said. “We cannot allow the devastating cycles of death, destruction, and displacement to continue.”
“This conflict will not be resolved by permanent war, occupation, or annexation,” he added. “It will only end when Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in their own sovereign, independent states, with peace, security, and dignity.”
