JEDDAH, 16 May 2021, (TON): In a statement by Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan Foreign Minister at Virtual Open-ended Emergency Meeting of the OIC Executive Committee to Discuss Israel’s Aggression against Palestine condemned the systematic and barbaric crimes against the Palestinians and Israeli attack on innocent worshippers in Al-Aqsa Mosque, violating the very sanctity of Qibla-e-Awal. Foreign Minister Qureshi said, “The deteriorating conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories due to the illegal practices of Israel, its colonial policies, and its continued aggression, siege and collective punishment, are sickening.”
He said, “We are also gravely concerned at the continuing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories and expulsion of Palestinians from their properties. The tragedy of forced evictions of Palestinians from the Shaikh Jarrah neighborhood of Al-Quds Al-Shareef is the latest manifestation of the systematic Israeli effort to change the demographic structure; historical and legal status; and Arab-Islamic and Christian character of Al-Quds Al-Shareef. This is patently illegal, immoral and unacceptable.”
He stressed on, “Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution in accordance with the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions, with the pre-1967 borders, and Al-Quds Al-Shareef as the capital of a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State.”
The Foreign Minister said, Three, Israel’s crimes against humanity should not escape accountability. There should be no impunity for Israel’s violation of international law, including the Fourth Geneva and the other various human rights Conventions.””
He added, “in the wake of the deteriorating conditions for the people of Palestine, my Prime Minister Imran Khan has spoken with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan, and the President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas. I have also been in touch with my key regional counterparts, including brother Riyad Al-Maliki.”