• Dar urges immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, UNRWA support, Gaza reconstruction
• Terms ‘Greater Israel’ plan a direct threat to regional peace

KARACHI: Deputy Prime Minister and Fore­ign Minister Ishaq Dar addressed the Organisa­tion of Islamic Coopera­tion (OIC) on Monday with a call to action, presenting seven “urgent and essential steps” for the international community and Muslim nations to halt the Israel’s war in Gaza and secure enduring peace in Palestine.

Mr Dar outlined the plan for both the OIC and the global community to follow to resolve the crisis. The points include an immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire, unfettered and sustained humanitarian access for all civilians, reinforced international support for the UN relief agency UNRWA.

Further points include an end to forced displacement and illegal settlements, implementation of the OIC’s reconstruction plan for Gaza, a revival of the two-state solution process in line with international law, accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Ishaq Dar also warned that Israeli Prime Minis­ter Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks supporting a “Gr­­eater Israel” threaten reg­ional peace. Addressing an extraordinary meeting of the OIC-CFM, Mr Dar said Israel’s recent provocative statements encapsulate a “growing disdain and absolute contempt” for the international order.

The condemnation follows a report from AFP earlier this month in which Netanyahu, when asked by an i24NEWS interviewer if he subscribed to a vision for a “Greater Israel,” reportedly replied, “absolutely,” adding, “If you ask me what I think, we’re there.”

These remarks drew widespread condemnation from the international community. Last week, Israel’s defence minister appro­ved a plan to conquer Gaza City, while Tel Aviv approved a controversial plan to build an Israeli settlement which would sev­er the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem.

“The brazen audacity of the so-called Israeli cabinet, in unveiling its ominous plan to extend Israel’s full military control over Gaza, as well as the Israeli prime minister’s recent allusion to the creation of a ‘Greater Israel’, provides an insight into Israel’s annexationist and rogue mindset,” Mr Dar told the council.

He said that Pakistan fully endorsed and joined a statement issued by 31 Arab-Islamic countries and the secretaries-general of the OIC, the League of Arab States, and the Gulf Cooperation Council condemning Netanyahu’s comments.

“His [Netanyahu’s] statement constitutes a direct threat to Arab national security, to the sovereignty of states, and to regional and international peace and security,” Mr Dar said.

Quoting PM Shehbaz Sharif, Mr Dar identified the conflict’s origin. “The root cause of this ongoing tragedy is Israel’s prolonged, illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. As long as this occupation endures, peace will remain elusive,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2025