ISLAMABAD: A multi-party conference — jointly called by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday — sought an immediate ceasefire in Palestine, as well as an emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to prevent Israel from undermining regional peace.

The conference was organised to exhibit solidarity with the people of Palestine on the completion of the year of atrocities committed by Israel in Palestine, which have killed over 40,000 people, including a large number of children, and injured over 87,000 people since Oct 7, 2023.

Almost all political parties participated in the conference except for the PTI which was extended an invitation by the hosts. The PTI seemed to have missed another opportunity to sit with the government to ease political tensions between them.

In a declaration issued after the multi-party moot, the participants urged the international community to stop Israeli aggression against Lebanon and other regional countries.

PTI stays away from MPC; moot calls for OIC summit, urges world to hold Israel accountable

The parties expressed their deep concern at the continuing brutal aggression and genocide being committed by Israel against the Palestinians, despite repeated calls for a ceasefire by the OIC, UN General Assembly, UN Security Council, the Inter­na­tional Court of Justice (ICJ), and the international community. It also expressed profound alarm at the impunity with which Israel was expanding the war theatre and its continued violations of international law and the UN Charter. It also ref­erred to attacks on Lebanon, and the killing of Hamas and Hezbo­llah leaders in Tehran and Beirut.

“We express our unwavering support for the inalienable right of the people of Palestine and Kashmir to self-determination; and for the relevant OIC and UN resolutions on Pales­tine that call for the withdra­wal of Israeli forces from the occupied Palestinian territories, and for a peaceful and negotiated solution to the conflict,” the declaration added.

It also demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, an end to brutalities against Palestinians, lifting of the Gaza siege, provision of unimpeded humanitarian, and medical aid, and to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law, war crimes, and acts of genocide.

It called on the OIC to convene an emergency summit to discuss the situation in Palestine, Israel’s brutal aggression in the region and its implications for regional peace and security. It also decided to observe November 29, 2024, as a ‘Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People’.

The multi-party moot also reaffirmed the right of the people of Kashmir to self-determination and called for the settlement of the dispute in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris and the relevant resolutions of the UNSC.

President Zardari expressed deep concerns over the growing Israeli adventurism in the region and escalation of tensions, calling upon the international community to take swift action to restore peace and prevent conflict from spilling over.

PM Shehbaz said the gathering bore witness that whenever the country faced a challenge, the entire political and religious leadership came together to speak as one voice, presented solid suggestions, and expressed intent to implement them.

Speaking after the president, Nawaz Sharif termed the brutal attacks on Palestinians as one of the “worst examples in history”. “It seems the UN is completely helpless. There is no implementation of its passed resolutions,” he added.

Maulana Fazl said the root of the conflict lay in the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which ordered the creation of a Jewish homeland within the territory of Palestine.

Lashing out at Israel’s actions, JI leader Naeem said, “Today the bodies of Palestinian children are burning, tomorrow even our children won’t be safe. Don’t expect anything from these people, they are terrorists.”

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2024