In a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people, Pakistan dispatched an aircraft loaded with 100 tons of relief goods to the besieged Gaza Strip on October 19, as announced by the Pakistani foreign ministry.
A chartered aircraft carrying crucial supplies, including medical items, tents, and blankets, arrived in Egypt on Thursday, from where the aid will be transferred to the people of Gaza.
“A chartered aircraft carrying 100 tonnes of essential medical supplies, tents, and blankets will depart from Islamabad for Egypt this afternoon. From Egypt, these items will be transferred to the people of Gaza,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a weekly press briefing.
The action came just a day after Israel granted permission for limited aid to reach Gaza.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, revealed on Wednesday that they would allow limited humanitarian aid to enter Gaza via Egypt. This decision followed the request from the United States President, Joe Biden.
Despite these humanitarian efforts, Israeli airstrikes persisted in various parts of Gaza on Thursday, including areas in the south that Israel had designated as “safe zones.”
The conflict in Gaza, which commenced on October 7 after Hamas militants breached Israel’s borders, has caused significant displacement. More than 1 million Palestinians, accounting for roughly half of Gaza’s population, were instructed to evacuate their homes in the northern regions and Gaza City. Israel’s cutting off of essential supplies to the enclave resulted in a severe shortage of food and other necessities.
The ongoing conflict has sadly become the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. According to the Gaza health ministry run by Hamas, as of October 19, the toll on the Palestinian side stands at 3,785 killed and nearly 12,500 wounded.
Meanwhile, more than 1,400 people in Israel have lost their lives since Hamas militants infiltrated the heavily fortified border and launched their concerted attack.
Gaza aid stuck at Egypt border as Palestinians face worsening conditions
The United Nations issued a pressing call for an “immediate humanitarian cease-fire” to facilitate the delivery of urgently needed aid, stuck at the Rafah Crossing, for the trapped Palestinian population in Gaza.
“For nearly two weeks, the people of Gaza have gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine and other essentials,” U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said at a news conference in Egypt. “Disease is spreading. Supplies are dwindling. People are dying.”
Guterres emphasized the vital role of the Rafah Crossing and the El Arish airport in Egypt as lifelines for the people of Gaza.
As the U.N. Secretary-General addressed the situation, aid trucks awaited clearance at the border crossing, and Egyptian work crews were engaged in repairing roads severely damaged by Israeli missile attacks in response to the Hamas terrorist attack that triggered the ongoing conflict.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization, announced that their trucks are prepared to deliver supplies to Gaza in collaboration with Egypt and Palestine Red Crescent societies as soon as the border crossing reopens.
Israel had already announced the day before that it would not obstruct the delivery of food, water, and medicine to nearly 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza.
Dr. Michael Ryan, the executive director of emergency programs at the WHO, noted the careful documentation of aid packages to ensure that only agreed-upon items enter Gaza. However, logistical challenges remain, including the need to repair damaged roads and ensure the safe passage of aid trucks.
The International Committee of the Red Cross also stands ready with a convoy carrying 60 tons of medical supplies and humanitarian aid.
Meanwhile, on the Palestinian side of the border crossing, a growing line of people, including American citizens, waited for an opportunity to leave Gaza.
Escaping the conflict has proven challenging for many, as they grapple with the harrowing conditions of breadlines, ruins, and increasing desperation in a conflict zone filled with the constant sound of drones and bombings.
President Alvi visits Palestinian embassy
Besides dispatching the humanitarian aid, President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi visited the Palestinian Embassy in Islamabad on Thursday, in a display of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
In an official statement released by the presidency, President Alvi held a meeting with Palestinian Ambassador Ahmed Jawad Rabei and conveyed a message of unity and support for the Palestinian people on behalf of both the government and the citizens of Pakistan.
“The United Nations should debate the atrocities that happened in Palestine, and the UNSC should pass a resolution to stop Israeli atrocities,” Alvi said.
It’s important to note that Pakistan and Israel do not maintain diplomatic relations.
President Alvi expressed his concern about the escalating brutality, emphasizing that such actions could fuel further hatred and conflict, potentially leading to more wars. He called upon the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take a firm stance in advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people.
“On behalf of the Pakistani people, we condemn the brutalities happening in Gaza, the disproportionate reaction of Israel, and the apartheid for the last 30-40 years. We condemn that people are being brutalized and killed. In fact, the hospital in Gaza was bombed and more than 500 people died. All this creates more bitterness,” the president said.