Pakistan Urges Israel Accountability for Gaza Atrocities
APP
United Nations: Pakistan’s top diplomat has urged Israel to be held accountable for crimes committed during its 15-month long war in Gaza, condemning the “heinous” attacks on Palestinian children. In a powerful statement to the UN Security Council, Ambassador Munir Akram emphasized that the suffering of Palestinian children during the conflict “stands out as a black mark on humanity.”
Speaking at the Security Council meeting focused on Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, Ambassador Akram condemned the actions of Israeli forces, particularly the targeting of civilians, including hospitals, schools, and children. He noted that over 46,000 people have been killed in the conflict, most of them women and children, calling into question the justification for such violence.
“Over 46,000 people killed most of them women and children. How can this be justified?” Akram asked the Council, stressing that the brutality against children in Gaza represents a stain on humanity at large.
He criticized both the direct attacks by Israeli forces and the international community’s failure to intervene sooner. “The suffering of children in Gaza stands out as a black mark on humanity at large,” he said, citing the role of countries that allowed the conflict to continue, as well as those supplying weapons to Israel.
Ambassador Akram further condemned Israel’s deliberate targeting of civilians, including women and children, and posed the moral question: “What moral degradation allows something like that to happen?” He also compared the October 7 attacks to the ongoing devastation in Gaza, asking if the violence inflicted upon Palestinian children could ever be justified.
Welcoming the ceasefire brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, Akram insisted that the truce could have been achieved earlier, and emphasized the need to ensure that the ceasefire holds to prevent further escalation.
He also called for the acceleration of humanitarian aid to Gaza, citing urgent needs for water, food, medical supplies, and shelter for displaced people. “There are no homes left; everything has been devastated. Where will they go for shelter?” he questioned.
The Pakistani envoy stressed that Israel’s actions in Gaza must be held accountable to restore international legitimacy and prevent further atrocities. “We must try to ensure that such brutal slaughter of children never happens again,” he concluded.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher also addressed the Security Council, highlighting the positive developments brought by the recent ceasefire, which has allowed humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza.
However, he did not shy away from detailing the suffering of Palestinian children, noting that over 17,000 children are currently orphaned and in need of critical support. He further revealed that the conflict has left many children with severe mental health issues, with one million children requiring psycho-social support.
Fletcher made an urgent appeal for the Security Council to uphold international law, secure continued humanitarian aid, and ensure funding for operations in Gaza, emphasizing that nearly 90% of the funds needed in 2025 are directed towards Gaza. “The children of Gaza are not collateral damage. They are as deserving as children everywhere of security, education, hope,” Fletcher concluded.
The Security Council also heard from Bisan Nateel of the Tamer Institute for Community Education, who shared the heartbreaking stories of Palestinian children. One child’s drawing, depicting a vision of safety and home, was contrasted with the tragic reality of war, as many children like Gazi lost their lives in attacks. Nateel recounted the horrors faced by children who were forced to endure violence during their displacement journey.
The suffering of Gaza’s children remains a focal point in international calls for accountability and justice as the situation continues to deteriorate.
