Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his strong condemnation of Israel’s actions against Palestinians, demanding an immediate halt to civilian bombings, particularly those impacting children and health facilities.
The PML-N president conveyed his concerns via the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, urging the international community to enforce UN resolutions and address the ongoing crisis. He emphasized the necessity of providing food and medicine to Palestinians and reiterated their support for an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital.
The statement comes in the wake of a rising death toll in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with 2,383 casualties and 10,814 injuries reported by Palestinian health ministry sources on Sunday.
In Gaza, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of 2,329 Palestinians, including a significant number of children, and 9,714 injuries. In the West Bank, 54 fatalities and 1,100 injuries have been recorded since the conflict between Hamas and Israel began on October 7.
Iran’s UN mission issued a warning, expressing concerns that if Israel’s “war crimes and genocide” persist, the situation could spiral out of control with far-reaching consequences.
On Saturday, President Biden, while reiterating unwavering support for Israel, discussed international efforts to ensure access to water, food, and medical care for innocent civilians.
Israeli troops prepared for a ground assault on Sunday, directing residents in the northern half of the Gaza Strip to move south, specifically in Gaza City, the largest settlement in the region. Troops assured the safety of Palestinians fleeing on two main roads until 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) on Saturday, but they continued to gather as the deadline passed.
Nonetheless, Egypt and Jordan, the only Arab states bordering Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, cautioned against the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed the significance of Palestinians remaining resolute on their land, declaring, “This is the cause of all causes, the cause of all Arabs.”
Jordan’s King Abdullah echoed this sentiment, warning against any forced displacement and underscoring the need to prevent the crisis from spilling over into neighboring countries and exacerbating the refugee issue. This situation evokes memories of the “Nakba,” or “catastrophe,” experienced by Palestinians during the 1948 war that accompanied the creation of Israel.