Pakistan praises UN report condemning Israeli actions in Palestine

Pakistan has welcomed the latest report from UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, which criticises Israel for implementing a systematic agenda of forced displacement, destruction, and genocide in Gaza and the West Bank.

During her weekly news briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that the report underscores Israel's acts of genocide against the Palestinian people through territorial expansion and ethnic cleansing.

She endorsed Albanese's stance, highlighting Israel's obstruction of international investigation efforts and the denial of entry to UN fact-finding teams.

Baloch called on the international community to take decisive action to end Israel's “unbridled atrocities” against Palestinians, ensure unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and provide full financing and protection to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The spokesperson expressed concern regarding Israeli actions against relief workers and agencies, including UNRWA, as well as the ongoing attacks on hospitals and vaccination centres.

In response to questions about Pakistan-US relations, Baloch noted that both the President and Prime Minister have congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his victory.

She reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to strengthening its longstanding relationship with the United States, based on mutual respect and non-interference in domestic affairs.

Addressing a recent resolution passed by the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir Assembly calling for the restoration of special status, Baloch reiterated Pakistan's position on the Indian occupation.

She emphasised that the future of Jammu and Kashmir should be determined by its people and reaffirmed that the region is an internationally recognised disputed territory.

Baloch stated that India must respect the right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people as enshrined in relevant UN Security Council resolutions and cannot suppress their aspirations through coercive measures.