https://arab.news/2gp42
- Israel announced ‘complete siege’ of Gaza on Monday, cutting off food and fuel supplies
- Pakistan urges UN to play ‘proactive role’ in facilitating cease-fire between Israel, Hamas
Islamabad: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson on Thursday condemned Israel’s “inhumane” blockade of Gaza and demanded that Tel Aviv immediately restore the supply of water and electricity to the Palestinian territory, one of the most crowded places on Earth.
Gaza has been under siege since Saturday in a near-constant bombardment that Gazan health officials say has killed more than 1,000 people. The blitz is retaliation for an attack on Israel by Gaza’s ruling group Hamas which the Israeli military says killed more than 1,200 people.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday Israeli forces had laid “a complete siege” of the Gaza strip by blocking water, fuel and power supply to the already besieged area. On Wednesday, Gallant pledged to intensify the military campaign, saying Israel would wipe Hamas “off the face of the Earth.”
“We are deeply concerned about the fast-deteriorating and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza due to inhumane blockade and collective punishment by Israeli forces,” foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters during a press briefing.
“The decision to cut off electricity, fuel and water supplies is unjust and should be reversed as it would severely affect the lives of Palestinians residing in the enclave.”
Graphic content / A woman comforts another mourning outside the morgue of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on October 12, 2023. (AFP)
Baloch demanded Israel immediately cease its campaign of “indiscriminate bombing” against the people of Gaza, lift the blockade and provide unhindered access to humanitarian aid.
She called for the urgent intervention of the global community to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
“We urge the United Nations to play a proactive role in facilitating a cease-fire to alleviate the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza,” Baloch said.
According to the UN, over 12,600 homes in Gaza have sustained damage due to Israel’s airstrikes since Saturday. The agency also reported that due to severe shortages of fuel and medical supplies, only 13 hospitals in Gaza were partially operational and over 650,000 people faced dire water shortages.
Gaza’s sole power station, which had been working intermittently for days, cut out on Wednesday after running out of fuel.