Israel making Gaza uninhabitable for Palestinians, says Pakistan

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – Pakistan Thursday said that Israel is “deliberately” making Gaza uninhabitable for Palestinians by “decimating” civilian infrastructure and symbols of self-governance, including the Parliament building.

Commenting on Israel’s bombing of hospitals, humanitarian agencies, and the Palestinian Legislative Council building in Gaza City, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch urged the “backers of Israel” to stop Israel from implementing its plans for “ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”

“Pakistan condemns repeated Israeli attacks on the premises and personnel of UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) and other humanitarian agencies, including the headquarters of the Qatari Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza. We join the UN in paying homage to the workers of UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies who lost their lives in Gaza and appreciate their steadfast dedication to the people in need,” Baloch said while speaking at a weekly news briefing in the capital Islamabad.

Pakistan, she went on to say, also condemns Israel’s war on hospitals in Gaza as “hospital after hospital is being targeted by the occupation forces in complete disregard of international law.”

The government media office in Gaza said in a statement that the Israeli army has so far targeted 52 health centers and 55 ambulances, while 25 hospitals have run out of service due to bombardment or lack of fuel and medical supplies.

“We are appalled by Israeli incursion into Al-Shifa Hospital, placing patients, medical staff, and civilians at risk. We join the international community to hold Israeli occupation accountable for its attacks against hospitals. Israel must also be held accountable for deliberately targeting mosques, churches, and schools sheltering civilians who have been rendered homeless because of Israel’s destruction of their homes,” she maintained.

She added that “all” countries must also stop exporting weapons and ammunition to the occupation authorities that are used by their military and settlers to kill Palestinian people and destroy their homes, properties, and civilian infrastructure.

“We once again urge the international community to act swiftly, collectively, and meaningfully to stop the ongoing aggression by the Israeli occupation forces and hold Israel accountable for the war crimes being perpetrated in occupied Palestine,” she further said.

Since Oct. 7, at least 11,500 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,710 children and 3,160 women, and more than 29,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel's relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.