Pakistani premier 'heartbroken’ by rising Mideast violence

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistan caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar said Saturday he is “heartbroken” by the killing of more than 230 people in Palestine in a new wave of fighting between Hamas and Israel.

Karkar urged restraint and protection of civilians.

The violence “underscores the urgent need to address the Palestine Question," he wrote on X.

"Enduring peace in the Middle East lies in a two state solution with a viable, contiguous, sovereign State of Palestine, founded on pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif at its heart," he added.

At least 232 people have been killed and more than 1,600 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza, according to the Gaza Strip's Health Ministry. Israeli authorities put the death toll of its citizens at 300.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry in a separate statement expressed concerns about the ongoing clashes and said Islamabad is worried about the human cost of the escalating situation.

"We are closely monitoring the unfolding situation in the Middle East and the eruption of hostilities between Israel and Palestinians," it said.

Pakistan said it has consistently advocated for a two-state solution as the key to enduring peace in the Middle East, with a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian question anchored in international law and in line with relevant UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation resolutions.

"A viable, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine should be established on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital," it said.

Islamabad urged the international community to come together for a cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and for a lasting peace in the Middle East.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, announced Saturday that it started the Al-Aqsa Flood military operation with rockets that targeted enemy sites, airports and military installations.

In response, the Israeli army announced launching Operation Swords of Iron in the Gaza Strip.

The army announced it is “initiating a large-scale operation to defend Israeli civilians against the combined attack launched against Israel by Hamas.”