Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently underscored Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people during their time of crisis. Speaking at an event in Islamabad for Palestinian students, he extended an open invitation for Palestinian citizens to find refuge in Pakistan’s homes and educational institutions, emphasizing the nation’s deep empathy for those suffering. With a tone that conveyed both dismay and resolve, Sharif highlighted how international bodies have failed to hold Israel accountable despite numerous condemnatory resolutions. “The International Court’s rulings mean little to Israel,” he said, condemning Israel’s disregard for the United Nations’ resolutions and international recommendations, which it has “thrown into the trash.” The situation in Gaza grows graver by the day as the world remains largely passive. The Israeli strikes not only continue in Gaza but have reached further, destabilizing the wider Middle East.
Israeli forces have executed high-profile attacks, targeting both Palestinian leaders and those allied with them across borders. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, reportedly attacked in Iranian territory, was killed in what Sharif characterized as a blatant encroachment on Iranian sovereignty. His successor, Yahya Sinwar, also fell to Israeli strikes, and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s death was followed by the killing of his successor, Hashem Safieddine. The list does not end there; Israeli operations are alleged to have extended to Iranian officials, including two generals killed during a raid on the Iranian embassy in Syria, as well as the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi—a crash that some have suggested bears Israel’s fingerprints. Sharif’s words painted a grim picture of a world order where the United Nations appears “barren and helpless,” unable to enforce its own resolutions. The international community, he noted, seems desensitized as Israel’s offensives intensify unchecked. Recent efforts by the UN to press Israel for a ceasefire have made little impact, underscoring its dwindling authority as the United States continues to back Israel unwaveringly.
With the assassination of key figures spanning various Middle Eastern factions, Sharif voiced a poignant question: “Is the leadership of the Muslim world so paralyzed by fear of Israel that it is choosing silence?” The prime minister’s message is clear: whether or not leaders choose to speak out against Israel, no country is safe from its reach. As the conflict encroaches upon neighboring states, he cautioned, waiting in silence for one’s turn only strengthens Israel’s hand. Instead, he called for pragmatic measures to curb Israel’s violence, stressing that action, not silence, will be essential to achieving justice. Sharif’s address underscored an undeniable sentiment: the world’s complacency in the face of escalating hostilities is a disservice not only to Palestinians but to all nations that value sovereignty and peace. By appealing for a united stand against aggression, he highlighted the need for decisive, coordinated action in the face of unbridled power—a call that resonates well beyond Pakistan’s borders.
