ISLAMABAD, Oct 31 (APP): The Senate of Pakistan convened Tuesday to address the ongoing crisis in Gaza, denouncing the Israeli military’s relentless assault on Palestinians.
Describing the conflict as a systematic attempt at the genocide of Palestinians, the Senate emphasized the urgency of global intervention to counter Israel’s aggressive actions.
During the motion under rule 218, focused on Israeli atrocities and violations of the Geneva Convention and UN Resolution on Palestine, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed highlighted Pakistan’s historical commitment to the Palestinian cause.
Quoting the legacy of Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Senator Syed underscored the strong solidarity between Pakistan and Palestine, drawing attention to the deep-rooted historical connections between the two nations.
Senator Syed emphasized the importance of recognizing legitimate Palestinian political organization, Hamas, and its significant role in representing the Palestinian people.
Referring to Israel’s recent bombardment of hospitals in Gaza, Senator Syed condemned these actions as war crimes and called for an immediate cessation of such heinous acts.
He recounted the historic Lahore gathering of March 23, 1940, which saw the passing of two seminal resolutions – the first emphasizing the self-determination of Muslims in the subcontinent and the second advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people.
Highlighting Pakistan’s strong solidarity with Palestine, he referenced the formal invitation extended to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) at the 1974 OIC in Pakistan, where Yasir Arafat was in attendance.
Emphasizing the democratic process in Gaza, he underscored the legitimacy of the elected party, Hamas, and its subsequent rise to power following what were deemed as fair elections in the Middle East.
In 2006, he noted, the foreign minister of the Hamas-led Palestinian government visited Pakistan, and the country extended crucial financial aid to its brotherly nation.
Pointing to Pakistan’s historical role in the Arab-Israeli conflicts, he highlighted the nation’s unwavering support for Arab countries in the face of Israeli aggression.
Criticizing the role of certain Western countries, Senator Syed Mushahid Hussain urged an end to their double standards and hypocritical policies, highlighting the need for a unified global stance against Israeli aggression.
Furthermore, he called upon the Chairman of the Senate, Sadiq Sanjrani, to appeal to the Parliaments of Western nations through a letter, urging them to take a decisive stand against Israel’s atrocities.
The Chairman Senate agreed to forward such along with resolution to be passed by the Senate in this session.
Senator Dilawar Khan emphasized the need for increased support and aid to the Palestinian people, and Senator Mohsin Aziz proposing a one-month salary donation from senators to assist the distressed people of Gaza.
Senator Quratulain Marri underscored the significance of the recent UN resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calling for heightened pressure on Israel to adhere to the resolution’s provisions.
Speaking on the motion, Sherry Rehman said termed the Israeli aggression state sponsor terrorism.
She said that even Save the Children– an International Organization reported that thousands children in Gaza had lost their lives.
Israel had launched 2nd ground attack on Gaza and innocent civilians including children, women and old person intentionally were being targeted, she said.
The Senator said even hospitals and aid conveys were not spared which was blatant violation of Geneva convention. Such things might be happened in darks ages earlier, she said.
She said it was a state sponsor terrorism and all international laws were violated in this occupation war. Unfortunately, many western powers were also sponsoring this war, she said.
She said innocent were trapped in volcanized Palestine and they were being massacred. They (people of Palestine) were not being given right to live and it was worse type of genocide, she said.
Sherry said that two states was solution to this issue besides immediate cease fire and urgent humanitarian aids to the people of Gaza.
Zarqa Suharwady while taking part in the debate said, Israel wanted to wipe out Palestinians and to make a greater Israel. Massive demonstrations were being held in European and western counties against Israeli aggression and Jews were also standing up against this inhuman act, she said.
She said Pakistan should play its leadership role in this conflict.
Speaking in the House, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said that he wrote a book “smile snatches” and it was based on fiction in which children of conflict areas especially Kashmir and Palestine were portrayed. But we and Palestine children were seeing now, were much more than fiction, he said.
He said small coffins were heaviest to pickup. The Muslim world should stand up against this suppression. We were witnessing children and generation were being killed. Whether it was self defence, in which innocent children, women and old people were being targeted, he questioned.
He said people who demonstrated for Palestine, they were being arrested in other countries. In UK, after two big marches, police were tasked to keep check on schools to know who were supporting these marches, he said.
He deplored that even a US presidential candidate was saying that those should be expelled from US who were demonstrating against Israel.
Israel was using phosphorus bombs and uranium against innocent civilians and Israel and its collaborators should be charged under war crimes, he said.
He said carpeted bombing was carried out in a small strip of land where children, women and old people were slaughtered. Water, medicine, gas electricity and fuel have completely disconnected to Gaza which was tantamount to genocide of Palestine people, he said.
He said, UN, OIC, Arab League and international community did not play its due role so far. However, we stand by the people of Palestine, he said.
Senator Khalida Ateeb said the it was very old dispute and UN had passed so many resolutions with no results so far. International community silence was strange, she said and added that Muslim Ummah should devise such strategy which reflected that we are one.
She said that hospitals and Gaza University were also targeted which was totally inhuman. The people of Gaza were being forced to evacuate the area, she said. She also urged the human rights champions to raise their concerns and called for practical steps rather than passing only resolution.
Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand said that we were assembled to condemn barbaric atrocities committed against innocent Palestine. Out of over 8000 casualties, 75 per cent were include children, women and old people, he said. He said 1.5 billion muslims could force Israel through boycotting their products.
Nuzhat Sadiq said use of phosphorus bombs was a war crime and Palestine people were facing genocide. The international community should pressurize Israel to stop its aggression against innocent Palestinians, she said.
Danish Kumar questioned the world community and OIC silence over massacre of innocent Palestinians. UN resolution had passed a resolution in 1947 to settle this grave issue but not yet implemented, he said.
He called for donating one year salary of all senators for provision of food and medicines to the people of Gaza.
Sajid Mir said that Palestine people were being subjected to atrocities since long. Hamas attack was reaction to Israeli aggression and oppression, he said.
He said so called champions of human rights and democracy have not only adopted complete mum over the Israeli aggression but also supporting the inhuman act.
He said there was a dire need to knock door of international court against war crimes of Israel. Oil should also be used as weapon, besides cutting off diplomatic and business ties with Israel, he said.
Talking part in the debate on Israeli atrocities and violations of the Geneva Convention and UN Resolution on Palestine, Senator Seemi Ezdi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf strongly denounced the Israeli forces’ attacks on hospitals and highlighted shortage of food and water faced by the people in Palestine.
She criticized that the UN resolution for a ceasefire had not been accepted by Israel, leading to ground action against innocent Palestinians, including women and children.
She called for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine and urged Muslim countries to extend their support to the people of Palestine.
Senator Molvi Faiz Muhammad of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUIP) also strongly condemned the attacks and described the situation as a systematic attempt at the genocide of Palestinians.
He called for global intervention to counter Israel’s aggressive actions and urged all Muslim countries to take a firm stand on the issue.
Senator Jam Mehtab Hussain said the people of Pakistan had an emotional attachment with the people of Palestine.
He expressed regret over the international silence on the Palestine issue and the lack of implementation of UN resolutions regarding Palestine and Kashmir.
Shahadat Awan of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) described the suffering of the Palestinian people, with hospitals, schools, and innocent populations targeted by Israeli forces.
He called for practical steps rather than lip service.
Waqar Mehdi, a PPPP leader, decried the killing of innocent people, including children, by Israeli forces as a war crime.
He criticized the silence of international human rights organizations and suggested that the country’s leadership to visit various countries to raise awareness of the terrorism committed by Israeli forces.
Falak Naz of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf assured the people of Palestine of Pakistan’s full support, as per the stance of great Leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
She called on the leadership of all Muslim countries to openly support Palestine.
Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) expressed concern over the killing of minor children by Israeli forces and criticized the silence of the international community, including Muslim countries.
He suggested that a delegation of Pakistani senators should visit Palestine to express solidarity and extend moral and diplomatic support.
Gurdeep Singh of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) criticized Israel’s violation of international laws and the targeting of innocent people with destructive weapons.
Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan of PPPP strongly condemned the brutality against the people of Palestine, highlighting the killings of doctors, children, and women by Israeli forces.
Fida Muhammad, also from PTI, stressed the need for unity among Muslim countries to address the aggression of Israeli forces against Palestine.
He called on people from Muslim countries to come forward and extend their support to the Palestinian people.
Senator Muhammad Akram from the National Party strongly condemned the attacks on innocent people in Palestine and urged the international community and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to support the people of Palestine.
