Islamabad:Pakistan’s National Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution condemning Israeli attacks on Gaza. During the session, members of parliament voiced strong support for Palestinians and also brought up the issue of Kashmir. MP Sahibzada Mohammad Hamid Raza emphasized that the Muslim world currently faces two major concerns — Palestine and Kashmir. He stated that not only is Israel responsible for the ongoing violence, but also those Muslim countries that have remained silent on the matter. Referring to the Israeli military actions since October 2023, Raza claimed that the massacre in Gaza is ten times worse than the Holocaust.
Renowned Islamic scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani called on all Muslim nations to impose a complete boycott of Israel. Following recent attacks on American fast-food chains during anti-Israel protests in several Pakistani cities, Usmani urged demonstrators to remain peaceful. The resolution, presented in the lower house by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, received support from all political parties. It strongly condemned the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, schools, and places of worship, labeling the Israeli bombing campaign as “barbaric.”
The resolution alleged that the renewed Israeli attacks since March 18 have killed 1,600 innocent Palestinians, raising the total death toll in Gaza to over 65,000. Hamid Raza urged unity among Muslim nations, stressing the Islamic concept of ummah (community) and calling for practical adherence to it. He demanded that Pakistan host an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to deliver a clear warning to Israel to halt its aggression in Gaza, or else face a global declaration of jihad by Muslim countries.
MP Abdul Qadir Patel also raised concerns about the backsliding on both Kashmir and Palestine, stating that the current situation is a betrayal of the firm stance taken by Pakistan’s founding leaders. He said, “One day, we will all be accountable for our actions. When a genocide was taking place, where were we?”
Some lawmakers urged Pakistan’s Prime Minister to visit Gaza instead of countries like Belarus, arguing that Palestinians — including children, women, and the elderly — are looking toward Pakistan for support. One MP remarked, “There are about 8 million Jews in the world, and we have more than that number of clerics in our country. If even one prayer from each cleric was accepted, Israel would no longer exist.”
Quoting a poignant couplet, an MP said,
“Kab ashk bahaane se kati hai shab-e-hijr,
Kab koi bala sirf duaon se tali hai?”
(When has the night of separation passed just by shedding tears?
When has any calamity ever been averted by prayers alone?)
The debate concluded with a passionate appeal for Muslim unity and a call to actively confront the crisis rather than relying solely on words and prayers.