Pakistan's army chief reiterates demand for 'immediate' cessation of hostilities in Gaza

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan's army chief reiterated his nation's support Tuesday for an independent Palestinian state and demands for an "immediate" cessation of hostilities and opening of a humanitarian corridor to Gaza.

Gen. Asim Munir expressed "grave concern over unabated violence and willful, indiscriminate" killing of innocent civilians by the Israeli forces in Gaza during a meeting with Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan, Ahmad Jawad Rabei, at army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

“Pakistan believes that the fresh spate of violence in Gaza is the result of unabated repression, continued human rights violations and state-sponsored sacrilege of the Al Aqsa mosque," he said.

"Taking a narrow and self-serving view of the issue as an isolated attack obscures brutal oppression spanning decades that has led to this outcome,” said Munir, according to a statement from the military.

He said incessant attacks on civilian population, schools, universities, aid workers, hospitals and the forced exodus of Palestinians from Gaza are manifest "crimes against humanity."

Munir reiterated Pakistan’s principled support for an independent, viable and contiguous state of Palestine established based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif, or Jerusalem, as its capital.

“At this critical juncture, it is imperative that the international community mobilizes to put an early end to the unfolding human tragedy due to disproportionate and unlawful use of force by Israeli defense forces and desist from encouraging them to continue perpetrating atrocities in manifest violation of all norms of civility and humane conduct,” he said.

Pakistan has seen massive protests since Oct. 7 with the president and caretaker prime minister expressing solidarity with Palestinians and denouncing actions by Israel.

President Arif Alvi last week visited the Palestinian Embassy in Islamabad to reiterate Pakistan’s support for Palestinians.

The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

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

A total of 5,791 Palestinian men, women and children have been killed in Israeli bombardment, which has targeted all areas of the besieged Palestinian enclave.

More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in Hamas attacks since Oct. 7, according to authorities.