“Israel should be held accountable for its war crimes against humanity," says Pakistan on Gaza war anniversary

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch strongly condemned Israel's ongoing aggression in Gaza, marking the one-year anniversary of the one-sided war in the enclave.

"As we complete a year of Israel's war on the people of Gaza, we honour the 42,000 lives lost, overwhelmingly women and children," Baloch said during a press briefing in Islamabad. 

"Pakistan remains deeply concerned about the starvation of and genocide of the people of Gaza."

Baloch highlighted the indiscriminate and horrifying Israeli attacks on civilian targets, including hospitals, schools, and shelters. 

"Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on Khalifa Bin Zayed school in northern Gaza, the mosque in Deir-el-Balah in Central Gaza, and refugee camps in Jabalia and Tulkarem," she noted.

"These attacks, which claimed the lives of innocent civilians including children and women, represent egregious war crimes being committed by Israeli occupation forces with impunity."

The spokeswoman urged the UN Security Council to take decisive action. 

"As we reflect on the last year of the conflict, we call upon the UN Security Council to act decisively and impose an immediate and permanent ceasefire protecting the people of Gaza.

“Israel should be held accountable for its war crimes and crimes against humanity,” she concluded.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas carried out an operation in Israel, killing 1,200 people, including 350 Israeli soldiers, and taking 250 hostages.

In response, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Gaza and initiated a ground operation, which continues to this day.

The ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza since October 7 has resulted in approximately 42,000 killed, over 96,000 injured, and more than 10,000 people missing.