Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will reject Israel’s “outrageous” plan to occupy Gaza at the upcoming Extraordinary Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, the Foreign Office says.

Dar will undertake an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from Aug 25-26 to participate in the meeting, where OIC member states will “deliberate upon coordinated responses to the escalating developments in Palestine, resulting from ongoing Israeli military aggression, its proposed plans for full full military control over Gaza and the continued egregious violations of Palestinians’ rights”, an FO statement said.

Dar will “advocate for total withdrawal of Israel from all the Occupied Palestinian Territories, reject the outrageous Israeli plan for extending full military control over Gaza and further displacement of Palestinians; emphasise the urgent need of unhindered humanitarian assistance”.

The deputy PM will “reaffirm Pakistan’s unwavering support for Palestine and reiterate its principled stance” and call for the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, most notably, the establishment of an independent, contiguous, and sovereign Palestinian state.