New York: Pakistan has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take decisive measures to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza and implement punitive actions against Israel, including an arms embargo. This appeal was made by Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram, during a day-long debate focused on the Middle East situation.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ambassador Akram emphasized the need to mobilize political consensus to enforce an immediate and unconditional ceasefire under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which permits the Security Council to undertake enforcement actions to maintain international peace and security. He highlighted the ongoing Israeli aggression as a destabilizing factor in the region, posing a threat to global peace and security.

Ambassador Akram condemned the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the blockade of aid and a strategy of starvation, stating that the shutdown of the UN Relief and Works Agency, vital for Palestinians in Gaza, is part of a broader campaign. He also criticized unchecked Israeli actions against Lebanon, Syria, and Iran, warning of the potential for a wider conflict in the Middle East. He attributed Israel’s impunity to the continued supply of weapons, sustaining its aggressive actions.

The Ambassador called for concrete measures to uphold the UN Charter and international legality, stressing the importance of breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza and ensuring the legitimacy of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees. He urged the initiation of a political process aimed at achieving durable peace, which includes the withdrawal of Israeli military forces from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, compliance with the International Court of Justice’s orders, and the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.