KARACHI: Some 160,000 innocent Palestinians have been martyred of whom 12,000 were children in over 100 days of atrocities unleashed by the Israeli forces in Gaza.

Israel had crossed all limits of barbarism in Palestine, said Hamas leader Dr Naji Zaheer during a visit to the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday to share with the media the latest situation in Gaza.

On the occasion he said that he held journalists in a very high esteem, especially Pakistani, be they from the print or the electronic media, because they were responsible for educating people about the facts.

“I particularly respect Pakistani journalists because in the current situation in Gaza, they have been reporting with such passion that they seem no different than their Palestinian counterparts working for our cause,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we have lost too many of our own newsmen in the line of duty in Gaza. Similarly, we have also lost many of our doctors. Israel has crossed all limits of barbarism in Palestine and the latest is what you have been seeing in the form of the atrocities of the 100 or so days,” said Dr Naji.

“As of now, some 160,000 innocent civilians have been martyred of whom 12,000 were children. Dozens of people belonging to the same family have been killed. Our hospitals have been targeted so that we are not even able to help our injured.

“The Gaza Strip is in complete ruins. Israel is using white phosphorus in Gaza. The substance is banned internationally, but it is being used against us because Israelis think that they are above the law. They are completely unwilling to hear our just demands,” he said, adding that even international humanitarian organisations, including some Pakistani ones, were not allowed to help them.

He said that people questioned why Hamas had attacked Israel. “We tell them that we stood up for our rights being denied to us. We also need our freedom. There are thousands of Palestinians who are being kept prisoners in Israel for over 45 years now,” he pointed out.

He also said: “Now Israel is eyeing the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Palestinians are trying to save Al-Aqsa. They have been protecting it with their lives. When one Palestinian is martyred while protecting the mosque, more take his place to do the same,” he said, adding that it was that kind of courage and valour that had also resulted in causing damage to Israel, too. Their men have also been sent to hell by the brave Palestinians.

“Another damage caused by this war is the damage to Israel’s economy,” he said, adding that the proxy war against Israel by the Muslims should continue in the form of the protests as those things boost morale and were being noticed.

He particularly thanked the people of Karachi for standing with the people of Gaza. “You can do more by also writing letters to the United Nations,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2024