On Monday, an All-Party Conference (APC) in Pakistan urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to hold an emergency summit to address the situation in Palestine. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the creation of a special working group aimed at engaging other Islamic nations to unite against Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza.
This conference coincided with Palestine Solidarity Day, commemorating a year since the Israeli invasion of Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 41,800 Palestinians. The APC was held at the Presidency in Islamabad, attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Sharif, and leaders from major political parties.
During the conference, PM Sharif emphasized the need for the Muslim world to take decisive action to halt the bloodshed in Palestine. He stated, “Pakistan has decided to form a special working group to connect with various lobbies and engage with other Islamic countries to raise a unified voice against Israeli atrocities.” He added that the primary goal should be to end the violence in Palestine, utilizing the OIC platform for this purpose.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar read a joint communique from all parties, calling for the full implementation of a UN General Assembly resolution (ES 10/24) from September 18, which demands an end to Israeli occupation. He stated, “[This APC] urges the OIC to convene an emergency summit to discuss the situation in Palestine, Israel’s aggressive actions in the region, and their implications for regional peace and security while stressing the importance of Islamic unity.”
Dar also called for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to implement provisional measures to prevent further acts of genocide against the Palestinian people and to uphold the ICJ’s advisory opinion reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli occupation.
In his address, President Zardari expressed disappointment that the international community had not stopped Israel from committing what he termed “genocide” in Palestine. He insisted that the prevailing culture of impunity and disregard for international law needed urgent attention, emphasizing the necessity for swift action to de-escalate the situation.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, head of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), questioned the world’s silence regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza, labeling them as “genocide and war crimes.” He urged the government to reach out to the Islamic community with recommendations for an effective response to the Palestinian conflict, reflecting the nation’s desire to contribute meaningfully.
Nawaz also called for unity among Muslim countries to formulate a joint strategy to halt the ongoing violence in Palestine, noting, “We have not seen such atrocities anywhere else in the world as those perpetrated by Israel, yet many countries do not acknowledge it as a humanitarian crisis.”
Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman called for practical measures to assist Palestinians, rather than merely passing resolutions and issuing condemnations. He suggested forming a coalition of leading Muslim countries to develop a common strategy to tackle the challenges facing Palestine.
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Naeem-ur-Rehman asserted that Pakistan must take a clear stance against Israeli violence towards Palestinians and advocate for convening a meeting of Islamic nations to adopt a unified position. He urged Islamabad to take a proactive approach in launching a diplomatic campaign to highlight the issue on international platforms.
Pakistan does not recognize Israel and lacks diplomatic relations with the country, advocating for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Since the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza, Pakistan has consistently raised the issue at the United Nations, OIC, and other multilateral forums, demanding that international powers intervene to stop Israeli military actions. The country has also sent multiple aid shipments to support the Palestinians.
