DEPUTY Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar must be appreciated for his proactive diplomacy in the wake of a highly provocative plan unfolded by the US President Donald Trump aimed at occupation of Palestinian land by Washington as part of the strategy to create a safer neighbourhood for the Jewish state. Dar wasted no time in approaching his counterparts from several countries, especially important Muslim states, for consultation and coordination on the emerging situation and it is encouraging that his telephonic interaction with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Monday led to an understanding for convening an emergent meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers to address the ongoing developments in Gaza.
There are two critical aspects of Trump’s move expulsion of Palestinians permanently from their ancestral homes and motherland and establishment of a Palestinian state within Saudi Arabia (as suggested by the Israeli Prime Minister) as well as creation of localities in Egypt and Jordan for relocation of Gazans. In this backdrop, Ishaq Dar has done well in making a categorical statement expressing unwavering commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its steadfast support for the Palestinian cause. This gesture of solidarity was highly appreciated by the Saudi Foreign Minister who expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s consistent and time-tested support, highlighting the importance of the two nations enduring relationship. Earlier, in a separate conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering stance on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. He also expressed similar sentiments during his telephonic conversation with Egyptian, Turkish and Malaysian foreign ministers where consensus was reached on the need to address on an urgent basis the human suffering and instability in the region, particularly in Gaza, where civilians have faced severe challenges. The decision to convene the OIC Foreign Ministers conference must be implemented at the earliest as Trump is proceeding ahead with his one-eyed plan of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. In a latest interview to Fox News, he not only declared that Palestinians will have no right to return to Gaza under his US takeover plan, describing his proposal as a real estate development for the future but also threatened to withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they do not take Palestinian refugees being relocated from Gaza. The Jordanian monarch was scheduled to hold a meeting with Trump in Washington and it is to be seen what transpires in their talks. However, the OIC must express full solidarity with Egypt and Jordan that have already rejected the relocation plan. In a related development, the continued provocative statements emanating from both Washington and Tel Aviv, coupled with ceasefire violations, have forced Hamas to stop releasing Israeli hostages till further notice. However, Trump has warned of cancelling the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and letting “all hell break loose” if all the hostages held in Gaza are not returned by Saturday at noon. This signals grave consequences for Gazans in the coming days, as they may either face forced expulsion from the Strip under the US-backed plan or endure a full-scale Israeli offensive against a defenceless Palestinian population. Under these circumstances, time is running out and the international community, especially the OIC member states should formulate an effective strategy to protect life and rights of Palestinians. Trump is taking a simplistic view of the Middle-East issue believing relocation of Palestinians will resolve the conflict but instead this is a prescription for perpetual trouble in the region as there can be no durable peace and security without a just solution as highlighted by scores of relevant UN resolutions. Muslim Ummah expects the OIC to move beyond rhetoric and firm up an effective strategy to counter the emerging challenge.
