Qureshi calls Palestine support a defining principle of Pakistan's foreign policy.

ISLAMABAD: Reaffirming Pakistan's abiding support for Palestinian people, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday called for immediate protection of Palestinians against Israeli aggression, implementation of UN resolutions, and an accountability of Israel's crimes against humanity.

Addressing the virtual open-ended emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) executive committee to discuss Israel's aggression against Palestine, he stressed that all necessary steps must be taken for stopping the ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people and their properties.

He said that the international community must protect Palestinians, and it should urgently intervene and take concerted actions to stop Israeli atrocities against civilian population in Gaza. The bombardment in Gaza must be stopped immediately, he said, and underlined that implementing forthwith resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council was both critical and urgent.

DECEPTIVE PERCEPTION

Israel's crimes against humanity should not escape accountability, he said, adding that there should be no impunity for Israel's violation of international law, including the Fourth Geneva and the other various human rights conventions. "Attempts to create a false equivalence between Israel and Palestinians are inexcusable. As the collective voice of the Muslims, the OIC should work in unity to dispel this deliberately deceptive perception," he said.

The foreign minister said that attempts to silence media and reporting through tyranny was evident from Israel's horrifying air strikes, bringing down a high rise building in Gaza that housed media outlets. He said that Pakistan was appalled by the sheer magnitude of illegal, disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force, tyranny and injustice being perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against defenseless Palestinians.

"There are no words strong enough to condemn the systematic and barbaric crimes against the Palestinians. The deteriorating conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories due to the illegal practices of Israel, its colonial policies, and its continued aggression, siege and collective punishment, are sickening," he said. He said that the indiscriminate use of force by Israeli forces against defenseless Palestinians was tantamount to grave violations of principles underpinned in international law.

UNABATED ATROCITIES

He said...