Pakistan to send medical aid to Palestinians hit by Israeli aggression

Fawad Chaudhry says the nation will observe solidarity day with Palestinians on Friday

The federal cabinet has approved sending medical aid to Palestinians on humanitarian grounds in view of the medical emergency they are facing as a result of Israeli aggression, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary said on Tuesday.

The meeting of federal cabinet was held in Islamabad today with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair.

Later briefing the media persons about the decisions taken in the cabinet meeting, Fawad said the prime minster has provided leadership to the Muslim Ummah from day one on the Palestine issue. This is also recognised by the Muslim Ummah, he added. “Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah laid the foundation of Pakistan's policy on Palestine and Imran Khan is now trustee of it.”

The information minister said the Palestinian leadership also acknowledges Pakistan's firm stance on the matter.

Fawad also announced that the nation will observe solidarity day with Palestinians on Friday.

LIVE #APPNews : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting @fawadchaudhry briefs media persons about the decisions taken in the federal cabinet meeting #Islamabad. @MoIB_Official https://t.co/6VYfNhRLoS

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More than a week of Israeli aggression on Gaza showed few signs of abating on Tuesday despite the intense US and global diplomacy to stop the region’s fiercest hostilities in years.

Gaza health officials put the Palestinian death toll at 212, including 61 children and 36 women, since hostilities began last week. Ten people have been killed in Israel, including two children.

The information minister, in today’s presser, said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is in Turkey and he along with some other foreign ministers of Muslim countries will go to New York to attend the UN General Assembly session.

Also read: 'Contact with various countries being established to stop Israeli persecution of Palestinians'

Qureshi, earlier in the day, said that contacts were being established with different countries to stop the Israeli persecution of Palestinians.

The foreign minister left Islamabad for New York on Monday night to attend the emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the issue of the latest Israeli assaults on Palestine. He will travel to the US via Ankara.

The 193-member UN General Assembly plans to meet on Thursday over the violence, General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir said.

Qureshi is undertaking the UN visit on the special instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan to draw the attention of the international community to the deteriorating situation in Palestine. In New York, he will hold important meetings with various dignitaries at the UN.

Read more: Israeli aggression on Gaza shows few signs of slowing as global diplomacy ramps up

At the General Assembly Qureshi will raise his voice against the oppression of the Palestinians by Israel. The foreign minister will also hold talks with local and international media representatives and present Pakistan's views on the situation in Palestine.

Pakistan has geared up its efforts for the UNGA session over the Palestine situation. During the Eidul Fitr holidays, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Qureshi established contacts with leaders of the Muslim world on the issue.

Imran also spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, while Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with his Palestinian counterpart. Qureshi also discussed the Middle East situation with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.

The National Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution condemning Israeli atrocities against the people of Palestine.