UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel's new offensive in the Gaza Strip, and urged the Security Council, which met in a private emergency session on Wednesday night, to demand an immediate cessation of its military action.
Council sources said that Ambassador Masood Khan, the permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the 15-member Council that the deadly Israeli offensive of more than 20 airstrikes in Gaza in which at least 13 people were killed, including Hamas's military commander, threatened international peace and security, the sources said.
"Grave developments today in Gaza portend to threaten international peace and security. The Council must play its part in arresting this trend," he added.
After the closed-door meeting that lasted nearly 90 minutes, Indian Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, who is the president of the Council for this month, said the upshot of the discussion was to seek de-escalation of the situation and to try and diffuse the tensions.
He said that a statement would be issued soon. In his remarks, the Pakistani envoy condemned the targeted killings as well as Israeli missile strikes against civilian areas in Gaza, which have killed a number of Palestinians, including a seven-year old girl.
"These are senseless killings," he is understood to have told the Council. “The Israeli retaliation is excessive, the response disproportionate."
Khan said the excessive use of force by Israel on peaceful protesters in a number of Palestinian cities was unacceptable. "Israel should exercise restraint. The firing of rockets from Gaza should also stop," he stated.
"The international community should step in. The Security Council should ensure that hostilities cease forthwith and further escalation is arrested, without caveats and qualifications," Khan added.
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I'm a Pakistani and v v v disappointed on shameful reaction of Pakistan....... we don't need this kind of Army and Nuclear Power which cannot help Muslim Ummah in any ways, we made Pakistan in the name of Allah and Islam ........... where is Islam???? we were better in India without country at least we could face Allah on the day of Judgment............ Pakistani Nation is just Drama Practically Zeeeeerooooooo. Its not Israel and USA fault instead its our fault why are we sooooooooo ........
@Cautious:
Best response would have been to eliminate the reason of any "Retaliation attack" from Hamas or any other Palestinian organization which is to vacate lands designated as "occupied territory" under international law. You cannot expect no resistance when Israel keeps occupying and building settlements on Palestinian territory.
What sort of unjust world are we living in, I think a Nuke will do more justice than mr. Masood Khan.
@fakruddin
Are you serious???
Note that this Israeli/Palestinian conflict escalation makes the news on ET, but the daily slaughter of Syrians is nowhere to be found on these pages! Maybe Pakistan is allergic to any news about the "Arab Spring" and hopes it will all go away!
What righteous self-pontificating! Why is Pakistan still using F-16s that are also used by Israel?
@Anythingbutcautious!
I have heard this before. The moment Indians return Kashmir, the moment sharia is implemented in its true form, the moment the West stops "persecuting Muslims" etc etc. Was this the reason why Malala was attacked too? I mean this nation has a tendency of not looking into the mirror and now, even the attack on Malala has been blamed on the "Joos."
I suppose our perennial load-shedding and corruption can be blamed on the Jews and Indians too.
@Shahbaz: Pakistan has never had a true leader....don't hold your breadth for the good looking mullah
Pakistan needs to also slam the atrocities that happen at home on a daily basis
@Anythingbutcautious!: WOW, so you say that the Palestinians have developed new rockets with warheads that are designed never to kill civilians!!! Then just what was the purpose of firing those "760 or so rockets" into Israeli communities? Let us suppose that India starts shelling Pakistani communities along the border with unguided rockets, just what would the Pakistani response be???? As for the 7 year old girl, please provide evidence that the "760 or so" Palestinian rockets carried no warheads and could not ever harm a child by even by falling on it!
@Cautious: "So what is a proportionate response to over 760 rocket attacks? " "Every provocation shall invite disproportionate retaliation" - Din's Law. Never fails. Don't want retaliation?, do not provoke!
@sensible: "@Cautious so you mean killing the innocent people and 7 years old child is appropriate, give me a break!" Were they specifically targetted? Don't want to die?, stay far from the baddies!
Well Pakistanis as usually are lost and have no idea whats going on. For them palestine seems to be near Jhelum and Balochistan somewhere in Kazakshtan.
The issue is that Israel continues to build settlements and steal land from poor farmers. Hamas uses this to incite hatred and attack Israel. And Israel acts.
Why does Israel build settlements? Even UN calls that an occupied territory.
Why does Israel oppose a two state solution?
If Pakistan wasn't left for leaders like Mr. Zardari, it would have been a great state. Thumbs up Pakistan, no matter how messed our situation is but raising voice against terror is certainly very much appreciable.
Its high time that Pakistani representatives spoke up! Respect!
The firing of rockets from Gaza should also stop,” .
@ Zoro... Didn't i hear from the HUJI, Hurkat ul ansar, Laskar -e Jangiyyavi. JuD that MALALA was a part of a grater conspiracy of the Israelis and the Amrikans.....and the Indians ....and probably the British too....wait i forgot the Germans...and the French....!
@ Zoro... Didn't i hear from the HUJI, Hurkat ul ansar, Laskar -e Jangiyyavi. JuD that MALALA was a part of a grater conspiracy of the Israelis and the Amrikans.....and the Indians ....and probably the British too....wait i forgot the Germans...and the French....
@ Antianythingcautious.. What reaction wud u give about Malala ??
@ Cautious You don't count Israeli bombs. Becuse they are fired by regular military, so they are legitimate. Right?
@Cautious: "Cautious" How heartless are you? those 760 or so rockets did not harm any innocent civilians. The moment Israel stops bulldozing Palestinian's homes, and if the rocket attacks still continue, then you are justified in your opnion. But these guys killed a 7 year old girl, how can you possibly justify this?
Its better to keep our nose out of this conflict. No one wants to mess with Israel who has power to desrroy all nations surrounding it.
@ cautious..Mybe 3500 dumb bombs from 350 US Made F-16s...would be termed proportionate..and they should be done in a proper Islamic manner..just like slaughter....
Thank god at least they spoke up finally... But the reaction should be much stronger, its a matter of shame that our govt isnt vocal enough against inhumane acts
@Cautious so you mean killing the innocent people and 7 years old child is appropriate, give me a break!
No one cares about what a country like us say, when we have committed million genocide in Bangladesh, we have destroyed Balochistan, when foreign drones kill thousands of citizens with the support from Govt and establishment, when our own forces are killing citizens in Karachi, North and South Wazristan, Gilgit and baltistan... when 80% of our own country is out of govt hands, who will listen to our stupid lectures?
So what is a proportionate response to over 760 rocket attacks?