Pakistan calls for 'immediate' humanitarian assistance for Gaza

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan on Sunday threw its weight behind growing calls for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for Gaza, urging the provision of "immediate" assistance to avert a major humanitarian crisis.

At a news briefing in the capital Islamabad, Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said Pakistan has been in touch with Egypt on providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, but "as of now, Israel is not ready for that." Israel has strictly blockaded the Gaza Strip since last weekend, cutting off its water, electricity, food, and medical supplies.

He said the people of Gaza are in dire need of food, water and medicines, which demands an urgent response from the international community.

Demanding an end to the years-long blockade of Gaza, Jilani accused Tel Aviv of committing a "genocide" of Palestinians.

"Pakistan's position on Palestine is very clear. The ongoing conflict is the result of a seven decade-long occupation," Jilani said, urging Tel Aviv to respect international law and UN resolutions on Palestinian self-determination.

A two-state solution with eastern Jerusalem as capital of an independent Palestine state is the only remedy for the long-smoldering conflict, he added.

Last weekend, Israeli forces launched a sustained military push against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel – a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening living conditions in an area that has endured a crippling siege since 2007, as well as ordering more than 1 million Gazans in the northern strip to evacuate to the southern strip within 24 hours.