The Gaza is a small self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border. Gaza, together with the West Bank, comprises the Palestinian territories claimed by the Palestinians as the State of Palestine. In short Gaza is the main Palestinian territory. Historically Pakistan has always supported the Palestinian cause politically, diplomatically and militarily. Below is an overview of the role played by Pakistan in Gaza so have the Pakistan Role Gaza
- Palestine’s embassy in Islamabad was inaugurated on 31st January, 2017, foundation of which was laid in 2013 during President Mahmoud Abbas visit to Pakistan.
- During the 1948 Palestine War (1947–1949), there were reports and even Israel diplomatic mission complained at UN that Pakistan provide military assistance to the Arabs.
- There were also rumors that a Pakistani battalion would be sent to Palestine to fight alongside them.
- Pakistan bought 250,000 rifles in Czechoslovakia that apparently were meant for the Arabs.
- Pakistan also bought three planes in Italy for the Egyptians.
Pakistan Role In Gaza Palestine Relations With Pak
- The Pakistan Air-Force participated in the 1967 and 1973 Arab–Israeli wars, Pakistani pilots flying Jordanian and Syrian planes downed some Israeli planes.
- In 1982 battle for Beirut between Israel and the PLO, fifty Pakistani volunteers serving in the PLO were taken prisoner by Israel.
- After the 1973 war, Pakistan and the PLO signed an agreement for training PLO officers in Pakistani military institutions
- At Islamic summit at Lahore in February 1974,the PLO was first recognized as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinians.
- PLO missions in Karachi and Islamabad (Pakistan’s capital since 1960) received full diplomatic recognition in 1975.
- Also in 1975, Pakistan had supported and voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 3379 which had equated Zionism with racism, which was later on revoked but Pakistan voted against its revocation.
- During the First Intifada that began in 1987, pro-PLO rallies were held in Pakistan and the government sent the organization food and medical supplies
- After the Palestinian Declaration of Independence on November 15, 1988, Pakistan then recognized the Palestinian Authority on 16 November 1988 and had established full diplomatic relations with it by the end of 1989.
- During the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza conflict, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister YousufRazaGilani and Foreign Minister Shah MehmoodQureshi have condemned the Israeli attacks in Gaza that killed over 1500 people on Saturday.
- On January 11, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, HussainHaroon, called for an immediate ceasefire and calm.
- Also during the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza conflict, Pakistan’s GEO News was one of the only few foreign news channels that provided exclusive coverage of the situation.
- During the November 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense in the Gaza Strip, the Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf spoke to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and said that Pakistan strongly condemns Israeli air attacks in Gaza “that have targeted not only the Hamas leadership but also innocent civilians”.
- On 14 April 2012, Pakistani Delegation led by AllmaQaziNorani, SabirKarbali, HasnatQadri, ArsalanAyaz others participated in a Global road Caravan towards Jerusalem.[
- On November 29, 2012, Pakistan voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 67/19 Palestine to non-member observer state status in the United Nations.
- In short Pakistan has always and still supporting the Palestinian cause and time and again have played an active role in Gaza.