Gaza assault: Political parties condemn Israel’s actions

Demanded trial in an international court and boycott of all Israeli products.

KARACHI:

The country’s political and religious parties gathered on Monday to condemn Israel’s attack on Palestine.

The all parties conference titled ‘A Clarion Call from Bleeding al Quds, O Muslims wake up for God’s sake’ was organised by the Palestine Foundation (PLF) Pakistan.

Politicians and religious leaders agreed on 12 resolutions. These resolutions called for Palestine to be declared an independent state, with Al Quds as its capital. They also demanded the trials of the Israelis in an international court for their crimes and the boycott of Israeli products. Moreover, they called for Israel’s membership in the UN to be revoked.

They also agreed to celebrate International Quds Day on the last Friday of Ramazan and ensured that it would be celebrated at an official level.

Speaking at the occasion, PML-N’s Saleem Zia demanded that those Muslim countries who have their diplomats in Israel should call them back to protest against the Gaza assault.

‘We have come together on the same platform to tell the Muslim Ummah that Pakistan’s political parties are united on this issue,’ he said.

PPP senator Taj Haider said that the original status of Palestine should be restored where people from different religions can live in harmony.

MQM’s MNA Ali Raza Abidi said that Israel was testing the patience of Muslims by carrying out the bombardments in Ramazan.  ‘We are all condemning the attack but we also should look what can be practically done,’ asking that why the Taliban or the ISIS were not attacking Israel.  PTI leader Firdous Shamim said that before raising the issues of Palestinians, the Muslims have to improve their image, especially after videos of Muslims killing one another and playing football with heads had begun to surface on the internet.

PML-Q leader Haleem Adil Shaikh said that they should have no high hopes from the UN to resolve the issue and said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should play a strong role in addressing the crisis.

Scholar Allama Abbas Kumaili questioned why OIC and the Arab League had remained silent about the attacks against Muslims.

JuD leader Muzzamil Hashmi said the situation was alarming as Muslim leaders had flagrantly ignored the interests of the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2014.