Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has strongly condemned the recent Israeli strikes on schools and refugee camps in Gaza, as well as a resolution passed in the Israeli parliament opposing Palestinian statehood.

“Pakistan […] condemns in the strongest terms the constant genocidal barrage by Israeli occupation forces on schools and shelters in Gaza,” she said during the FO’s weekly press briefing. “Over the last 10 days they have attacked 8 schools in Gaza being used as shelters by displaced civilians.”

She also condemned the “atrocious attack” on tents housing displaced persons in the Al-Mawasi camp in Khan Younis, which “resulted in the deaths of at least 90 Palestinians, including women and children, taking refuge in the camp”.

“Targeting a camp that Israel itself designated as a safe zone is another violation of international humanitarian law,” she continued.

The FO spokesperson also condemned steps taken by Israel to oppose “the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state”. “Israel has no locus standi to decide about the future of the lands belonging to the people of Palestine,” Baloch said.

“Pakistan firmly believes that the only just solution to the Palestinian question is the creation of a viable, secure, contiguous and sovereign state of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders and with Al-Quds Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital,” she added.

The FO spokesperson also condemned the arrest of worshippers during a Muharram procession in Srinagar for reportedly chanting pro-Palestine slogans.