Deputy Head of the Mission of the State of Palestine Nader K. Alturk has appreciated the positive role played by Pakistan to bring an end to Israeli atrocities against innocent people of Palestine.

In an exclusive interview with the News and Current Affairs Channel of Radio Pakistan this evening, he said Islamabad took a firm stand, mustered support of friendly countries and represented Muslim Ummah’s true sentiments over the Palestinians’ plight at the special session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Deputy Head of the Palestinian mission hailed Pakistan’s unwavering political, diplomatic and moral support to the brave and resilient people of Palestine.

The Palestinian envoy emphasized the need to find a lasting solution to the Palestinian issue through united and concerted efforts of Muslim world. He said the ceasefire announcement by Israel is the result of diplomatic efforts initiated by the Muslim Ummah around the world.

Hailing the ceasefire, he urged the need to move forward for permanent and enduring solution of the Palestinian issue. Deputy Head of the Palestinian Mission to Pakistan said now Israeli and Palestinian leadership have a responsibility to start a serious and meaningful dialogue to address the root causes of the conflict.  He said a separate Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital is the only viable solution to Palestinian issue.

He also called for solidarity by the Muslim Ummah to support the efforts to resolve the Palestine dispute in accordance with the relevant UN and OIC resolutions. The envoy also hailed the role of China, Turkey and some other countries in starting diplomatic efforts to halt the Israeli aggression against innocent Palestinians.

Nader Alturk said Palestine as an independent state has been recognized by 145 states of the world while the Jewish state is recognized by around eighty countries only. There are 86 resolutions of the UN Security Council on the issue of Palestine. The resolution 2334 explicitly bars Israel from establishing new Jewish settlements on the occupied lands. He urged the United Nations Security Council to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. 

Shedding light on the historical background of Israeli–Palestinian conflict, he said the conflict has its roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the birth of major nationalist movements among the Jews and among the Arabs, both geared towards attaining sovereignty for their people in the Middle East. He said this is one of the world's most long-standing hostilities, with the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip reaching 53 years. The Palestinian envoy said Jewish settlements are illegal on Palestinian lands and are not acceptable.

Turning to role of international community, Nader Alturk endorsed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s published statement in which he had said world opinion was changing fast in the Western world on Palestinian issue. He said world public opinion is more sympathetic to Palestinian’s plight and Israel is losing its position regarding the issue. He said people are following the truth, facts, emotions and the tragedy that Palestinians are going through. They know how Israel is violating human rights of innocent Palestinians flagrantly by bombing and killing innocent civilians, their schools and residences.

Speaking on the occasion, Former Ambassador Riaz Hussain Bukhari said Pakistan remained a leading country, which mobilized all possible humanitarian assistance for the devastated Palestinian population in Gaza and other parts of the occupied territories.

Riaz Hussain Bukhari underlined the need to revive concrete efforts to end Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories and to dismantle the illegal Jewish settlements and regime Israel has imposed in the occupied territories.

To a question about illegal occupation of IIOJ&K by India, the Palestinian envoy said the issue must be resolved in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.  He expressed hope that both India and Pakistan would be able to resolve this issue and wished both sides success.

Credits

Host: Syed Muhammad Ali

Co-Host: Riaz Hussain Bukhari

Guest:  Nader K. Alturk (Palestinian Deputy Head of Mission)

Producers: Imran Latif, Asadullah Khan

Executive Producer: Muhammad Tariq Chaudhary