Fauzia Nasreen (Former Ambassador): Pakistan will continue its all-out support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, especially their right to self-determination. Pakistan stands with people of Palestine in this challenging time. It is good omen that the UN Security Council and the OIC are scheduled to hold separate meetings tomorrow to discuss Israeli aggression against unarmed Palestinians. Although, the United Nations is an important forum, yet it is difficult to get hard-hitting statement from it over the Israeli aggression. Palestinian people are fighting and raising their voice against this sheer injustice. It is not only an issue of rights of Palestinian people, but also a problem to be considered by Muslim Ummah all over the world. It is high time that Muslim world gets united and takes joint steps to stop atrocities of Israel against Palestinians.

Dr. Rasul Bakhsh Rais (Expert on International Relations): Pakistan has taken a bold and principled stand on the issue of Palestine. It is a matter of concern that Palestinian casualties are increasing and huge destruction is taking place as Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip entered into sixth consecutive day today. Major global powers, including the United States, and the United Nations should raise their voice over Israeli aggression against unarmed Palestinians.  Turkey and Saudi Arabia have also condemned the Israeli acts of aggression. Israel occupation of the Arab lands must be condemned by the world community in order to grant Palestinians their inherent rights. Egypt and Syria, being neighbours of Palestine, should play their due role in stopping the Israeli aggression. Egypt has expressed its willingness to play the role of a “mediator” to resolve the Palestinian conflict.

Shahid Amin (Former Ambassador): There is also a political angle in this conflict.Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is decreasing popularity at home fast and in his view he can improve his ratings by a military campaign in Gaza. In Gaza, Hamas is a powerful militant group and is itself facing competition with Palestinian government. It is a dangerous situation in which innocent Palestinian women and children are being killed. The Jewish lobby is very strong in the USA and it stops Washington of taking any steps. The UNSC meeting is going to be held tomorrow and it is hoped that international pressure will mount on Israel to stop its atrocities against Palestinians. It is failure of the UN that it has not taken any decisive action so far against the state of Israel.

Dr. Waseem Khawaja (PIMS, Islamabad): People should strictly follow corona related SOPs in order to protect them against this deadly disease. People should also adopt social distancing and wear mask at the public places. Vaccination is very important for everyone. It helps build immune system against coronavirus and chance of mortality is reduced.