ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has condemned Israel’s renewed air strikes on Gaza that killed more than 100 Palestinians this week, calling the assault a “flagrant breach” of international law and the recently agreed ceasefire.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Foreign Office said the attacks represented a “clear violation” of the truce and urged global powers to act swiftly to halt Israeli aggression and protect civilians.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the renewed attacks by the Israeli occupying forces in Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in civilian casualties,” it said. “These actions constitute a flagrant breach of international law and the recently concluded peace agreement.”
The Foreign Office reiterated Pakistan’s long-standing support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and called for an independent State of Palestine based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 104 people were killed and dozens injured when Israeli warplanes targeted several locations across the enclave on Tuesday. Among the dead were 35 children as well as women and the elderly. Hospitals already struggling with shortages of fuel and medicine were overwhelmed by the influx of casualties.
Witnesses said the strikes hit homes, tents for displaced families and areas near hospitals including Al-Shifa and Al-Awda, Gaza’s largest medical facilities. “We had just started to breathe again when the bombardment came back,” said Khadija al-Husni, who lives in a temporary shelter at Al-Shati refugee camp. “It’s a crime. Either there is a truce or a war — it can’t be both.”
The Israeli military said it launched the strikes after accusing Hamas of violating the truce by killing a soldier, a claim the group denied. It claimed “dozens of terror targets and terrorists” were hit and that “the ceasefire has since been reinstated.”
The renewed violence came just weeks after a fragile peace plan brokered by US President Donald Trump with the backing of eight Muslim countries, including Pakistan. The plan outlined a phased ceasefire, exchange of prisoners and hostages, and deployment of an international force to oversee humanitarian operations and reconstruction.
During his visit to Asia, Trump defended Israel’s response, saying: “They killed an Israeli soldier, so the Israelis hit back — and they should hit back.” He insisted that the truce remained “intact” and “nothing will jeopardise” it.
Humanitarian agencies warned the strikes risk derailing progress under the peace plan. Gaza’s civil defence agency called the attacks “a clear and flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement,” saying the humanitarian situation was “rapidly deteriorating.”
Hospitals across Gaza are running out of essential supplies. Medical staff told international media that patients were being treated on floors due to a shortage of beds. The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned that Gaza’s healthcare system is “on the brink of total collapse.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed to continue targeting Hamas leaders, warning that “there will be no immunity for anyone in the leadership of the terrorist organisation Hamas — neither for those in suits nor for those hiding in tunnels.”
Regional reactions have been swift. Qatar, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, called for restraint and urged “respect for the terms of the peace deal.” Turkey and Egypt, both guarantors of the ceasefire, condemned the renewed strikes and cautioned that further escalation could derail months of diplomacy.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to attend a meeting in Turkiye next week with counterparts from the eight Muslim nations involved in the Gaza peace initiative. Officials said the gathering would review the truce’s implementation and discuss mechanisms to monitor compliance. Islamabad is also considering whether to contribute troops to the International Stabilisation Force being formed for Gaza, though no decision has been made.
The Gaza conflict, which began in October 2023, has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced more than two million. Despite several temporary truces, intermittent violence has hampered efforts to achieve lasting peace.
Pakistan has consistently voiced solidarity with the Palestinian people in international forums, including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. In recent months, Islamabad has stepped up diplomatic engagement, calling for accountability for “war crimes and systematic human rights violations” by Israeli forces.
“The latest strikes are yet another reminder that durable peace cannot be achieved through force,” the Foreign Office said. “Only a just and lasting resolution based on international law and UN Security Council resolutions can bring stability to the region.”
3. Travel-Ready and Wrinkle-Free