Pakistan PM Calls for Permanent Gaza Ceasefire at WEF, Says 'No Peace in World Without Permanent Peace in Palestine'

At the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, stating that there can be no peace in the world without a permanent peace in the Palestinian territory under siege. Sharif's plea comes as Israel's attacks on Gaza have killed at least 34,535 Palestinians and injured 77,704 since the conflict began on October 7, 2023.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, the death toll includes at least 47 deaths in the past 24 hours alone. Many victims remain trapped under rubble as civil defense and ambulance crews struggle to respond to the heavy bombardment. On Sunday night, an Israeli airstrike on three residential buildings in the southern Gaza city of Rafah killed at least 20 Palestinians, including six women and five children, with one victim being a 5-day-old baby.

The ongoing Israeli onslaught has pushed 85% of Gaza's population into internal displacement and damaged or destroyed 60% of the enclave's infrastructure. The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of genocide and ordered it to stop such acts and ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza. However, hostilities have continued unabated, and aid deliveries remain insufficient to address the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Why this matters: The escalating violence in Gaza has resulted in a staggering loss of life and a worsening humanitarian crisis, with the international community calling for an immediate ceasefire and increased aid efforts. The conflict's impact on the Palestinian people and the stability of the region underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.

Israel has threatened to send ground troops into Rafah, the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza, despite warnings from the U.S. and others who fear a humanitarian catastrophe. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently visiting the Middle East, including stops in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel, to negotiate a ceasefire deal and push for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The massive loss of life has wiped out swaths of Palestinian family lines and destroyed cultural sites, such as the Great Omari Mosque and the Church of Saint Porphyrios. Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian resident, lamented the loss of his childhood memories and heritage, saying, "The war has damaged iconic landmarks like the Yarmouk Stadium, which has become a symbol of the 'damage, death, destruction, and detention, imprisonment and humiliation' of the conflict."

Prime Minister Sharif acknowledged the support Pakistan has received from Saudi Arabia and other friendly countries during difficult times. He also stated that his government is pursuing deep-rooted structural reforms to put the country on the path to economic recovery, as Pakistan faces a chronic balance of payments crisis and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure a new loan program.

Key Takeaways

• Pakistan's PM calls for permanent ceasefire in Gaza, citing no peace without it.
• Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed 34,535 Palestinians and injured 77,704 since Oct 2023.
• 85% of Gaza's population displaced, 60% of infrastructure damaged or destroyed.
• ICJ accuses Israel of genocide, orders it to stop and ensure aid reaches civilians.
• Pakistan faces economic crisis, in talks with IMF for new loan program.