With Gaza under a total aid blockade by Israel for over two months, Pakistan has urged the UN Security Council to act urgently to end the suffering of Palestinians and deliver long-overdue justice.
Speaking at a Council meeting, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has reached “catastrophic” levels. He warned that history will judge those who fail to act and called for unity in the interest of peace and humanity.
UN Humanitarian Chief Thomas Fletcher described Israel’s actions as the deliberate creation of inhumane conditions. For more than 10 weeks, no food, medicine, or aid has entered Gaza. He challenged world leaders to reflect on their response to this modern atrocity.
Ambassador Asim supported Fletcher’s briefing and accused Israel of systematically destroying civilian life and humanitarian support. He said over 2 million people, including one million children, are suffering through famine, collapsed hospitals, and constant danger. He cited UN reports showing 470,000 people face extreme hunger, and nearly all of Gaza’s population is food insecure.
He condemned attacks on aid workers and hospitals, calling such actions violations of international law. Pakistan firmly rejected Israel’s restricted ‘aid coordination mechanism,’ saying it politicizes and weaponizes humanitarian aid.
The ambassador called for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and full protection for aid convoys and medical teams. He demanded the lifting of the blockade and full operational freedom for UNRWA, the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees.
Highlighting the root cause, Ambassador Asim stressed that peace can only be achieved through a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. He expressed hope that the upcoming peace conference in June would offer a path toward Palestinian statehood.
“The people of Gaza deserve peace, dignity, and the right to self-determination,” he said. “This Council must uphold its duty and act urgently.”
Palestinian UN envoy Riyadh Mansour added: “Time is our enemy. Our children are starving, families have no shelter, and bombs are the only certainty. The world must act—immediately and decisively.
