Pakistan declares national day of mourning tomorrow over Haniyeh's assassination

Pakistan is to observe a national day of mourning over the assassination of the Hamas Chief, tomorrow (Friday).

The decision was taken during a meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.

In his remarks on Thursday, Sharif criticized the extraterritorial killing, which has sparked widespread condemnation from Pakistan and other nations, including Turkey, Russia, Iran, China, and Malaysia. The Prime Minister highlighted the brutal nature of the attack, noting that Haniyeh's children and grandchildren were also killed in the incident.

During the meeting, Sharif drew attention to the prolonged bloodshed in Palestine, which has claimed over 40,000 lives, including thousands of children, over the past nine months. He criticized the international community for its silence in the face of this ongoing violence, calling it a form of "barbarism" that deserves strong condemnation.

Sharif took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of attempting to destroy Palestine and ignoring verdicts from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and United Nations resolutions. He also expressed appreciation for Western countries like Ireland and Spain that have supported the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution.

The meeting participants collectively condemned the Israeli aggression and expressed full solidarity with the Palestinian people. They called for immediate humanitarian aid access to Palestinians and resolved that Pakistan would continue to provide relief materials and medical assistance, including bringing injured Palestinians to Pakistan for treatment. Additionally, Palestinian medical students will be offered admission to Pakistani medical colleges on humanitarian grounds.

In a show of solidarity and protest against Israeli actions, the meeting declared August 2 as a national day of mourning in Pakistan. A funeral prayer in absentia for Ismail Haniyeh will be held after Friday prayers across the country, and a special resolution will be presented in Parliament to express unwavering support for Palestine.