ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sent aid, including medicines and tents, for the people of Gaza, according to the Foreign Office spokesperson.

A chartered aircraft carrying 100 tonnes of essential medical supplies, tents, and blankets departed from Islamabad for Egypt on Thursday.

From Egypt, these items will be sent to the people in the besieged enclave, said Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.

The first consignment of relief items was sent a day after Israel announced it would not block humanitarian aid entering the besieged Gaza Strip from Egypt.

Ms Baloch said Pakistan remained deeply concerned about the situation of Palestinian brothers and sisters in Gaza.

“We strongly condemn the Israeli aggression and blockade, particularly the recent attack on a Gaza hospital”, she said, referring to the Israeli strike at Al Ahli Hospital, which resulted in the death of over 500 people.

President visits Palestine embassy, condemns Israel’s atrocities

She added that Israel’s actions “violated international humanitarian and human rights laws”.

“Deliberate attacks against civilian targets constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. We call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the siege of Gaza and the facilitation of humanitarian corridors for unrestricted relief supplies.

President visits Palestine embassy

Separately, President Arif Alvi on Thursday visited the embassy of Palestine in Islamabad and condemned “Israel’s brutalities”.

He also called for an immediate ceasefire besides opening a humanitarian corridor to supply aid and food to residents in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement issued by the presidency.

President Alvi met the Ambas­sador of the State of Palestine in Islamabad Ahmed Jawad Rabei, and expressed solidarity with the Palestinians on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan.

He urged the international community to condemn Israel’s brutalities and disproportionate reaction, which killed thousands of innocent people.

“The president called for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of a humanitarian corridor to send aid to the people lacking food, electricity, and water.”

The president said Pakistan would always stand by Palestine and only accept a solution acceptable to the Palestinians.

Speaking on the occasion, the president said the United Nations should debate the atrocities in Gaza, and the UNSC should pass a resolution to stop Israeli atrocities.

“Such brutal actions created more possibilities of hatred leading to more wars,” the statement added while quoting the president.

He underscored that war has “destroyed any possibility of peace”.

“[W]alls were being raised to stop the Palestinian people from trying to achieve a peaceful two-state solution. Such walls will not withstand and would be breached by the people.”

“As long as a two-state solution is being suppressed, people will react”, President Alvi added.

The Palestinian ambassador thanked the president for visiting the embassy during a difficult time. He termed Israel’s actions in Gaza “genocide of the Palestinian people”.

The president also recorded his remarks in the condolence book in the embassy and expressed sympathies with the families of the martyrs who lost their lives in Israeli attacks.

Syed Irfan Raza also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2023