• Pakistan becomes the first country to label a leader in the West as a terrorist succumbing to public pressure
• The government also forms a Boycott Divestment Sanctions committee to begin banning Israeli goods throughout the country
Pakistan’s government declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a terrorist, demanding the leader be brought to justice for alleged war crimes against Palestinians while calling on the Muslim Ummah and the whole world to assist in ensuring this happens.
The statement by Rana Sanaullah, adviser to Prime Minister ShehbazSharif on political and public affairs said
“Israel has emerged as a terrorist entity with Netanyahu committing war crimes and being a terrorist.”
“We demand that he be put on trial… “We wholeheartedly condemn the cruelty; Israel; and all the powers that are involved in it.”
Sanaullah made the statement as part of acceding to a demand from a religious political party, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan or TLP. The adviser sat flanked by TLP leaders and Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar at a press conference in Islamabad.
The TLP held a sit-in for days on a key road outside the capital that caused severe disruption for commuters. Thousands of supporters for both TLP and Palestine rallied near the capital to condemn Israeli attacks in Gaza.
BDS Implementation
In the government’s statement, Sanaullah also went on to say
“We will ensure that not only Israel but also any products associated with it or companies that directly or indirectly support Israel and its forces in any form will be boycotted,and the use of their products will be banned.”
Sanaullah had now confirmed that the Pakistan government had agreed in principle to implement a ban on products and companies affiliated with the Israeli regime owing to the ongoing war crimes being committed by Israelis in the Gaza Strip.
Despite no trade or diplomatic ties between the two countries, many Pakistanis called for the boycott of Israeli products as well as Western brands who are seen to be supportive of the Israeli occupation.
The Pakistan government also announced the formation of a BDS which Sanaullah also confirmed.
“A committee has also been constituted to identify such companies and products in Pakistan that may be directly or indirectly abetting Israel or forces, committing war crimes against Palestinians.”
Aid, Support and Relief
The government also agreed with the TLP to send more than 1,000 tons of relief supplies including food, medicine, and other items for Palestinians by the end of the month. Since October last year, Pakistan has sent nine humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza.
Along with the relief supplies, it was also confirmed that plans are being made to send doctors, paramedics and volunteers to help Palestinian victims of the Israeli genocide.
Officials in Islamabad stated they were also readying to bring the injured Palestinians to Pakistan should the Palestinian Authority need to make any such arrangements for various treatments.
Pakistan Goes Above and Beyond
“Our schools and hospitals are open for providing education and medical facilities to the innocent Palestinians.”
Earlier this month, Pakistan announced it would provide scholarships to Palestinian medical students from Gaza to continue their education.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, called the situation in Gaza a genocide but gave a glimmer of hope to the children of Gaza by saying that his Ministry planned to help Palestinian students from Gaza so they would soon enrol in medical colleges in Pakistan in batches of 20-30.
There is no denying that Pakistan is setting a new benchmark in dealing with Netanyahu and the Israeli regime while offering unprecedented support on many levels putting Zionist countries in the West to shame.
Even South Africa did not go so far as to call out Netanyahu in such a direct way. Nonetheless, South Africa helped pave the way for the world to recognise the reality of the Israelis’ genocidal intentions.
It is also noteworthy that it was the TLP and the backing they received in their protests that helped nudge this installed government to recognise and act on the public demands that the government declare Netanyahu a terrorist, boycott Israeli products and send aid to Palestinians.
Thankfully they managed to achieve all this and more without bloodshed, in what was mostly a peaceful and amicable way. InshAllahthis becomes the starting point of finding a stronger and more united Pakistan.
