Ismail Haniyeh, a senior Hamas leader, appealed for Pakistan’s support in the struggle against Israeli occupation in a virtual address at the ‘National Dialogue on the Sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Responsibility of the Muslim Ummah’, organized by Majlis Ittehad-e-Ummah Pakistan. Haniyeh defended the October 7 actions of Hamas fighters, stating they were in self-defense against Israel’s plans to annex more Palestinian territories.
Haniyeh emphasized the challenges facing Palestinians, noting the arrest of about 16,000 Palestinians and the desecration of holy sites by Israel, actions he deemed as violations of international norms. He expressed disappointment over the non-implementation of the Oslo Accords and commended Pakistan for its bravery, suggesting that resistance from Pakistan could potentially halt Israeli actions against Palestinians.
He accused the United States and other countries of supporting Israel and alleged that Israel had planned a sudden attack on Gaza. Haniyeh asserted Hamas’s determination to counter Israel’s advanced weaponry.
At the conference, Maulana Fazlur Rehman Fazl, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), highlighted the increasing importance of the roles of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, China, and Russia in current circumstances. He called for action from China and Russia to counteract U.S. influence in the Gulf and announced the observation of ‘Protection of Al-Aqsa Mosque Day’.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Amir Sirajul Haq advocated for boycotting companies supporting Israel. Mufti Taqi Usmani, President of Al-Madaris al-Arabiya, rejected the two-state solution for Palestine, stating that it would imply recognition of Israel, which he claimed no Muslim could accept. He suggested referring to Hamas members as Mujahideen rather than fighters.
Aneeq Ahmed, the Caretaker Religious Affairs Minister, stressed the critical roles of countries like Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia in the current situation, emphasizing the potential failure of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to address the Gaza crisis.
The conference concluded with a joint declaration condemning Israeli actions in Gaza and calling for an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the permanent opening of the Egypt-Rifah border increased Pakistani aid to Gaza, and the severance of diplomatic and trade relations with Israel, including a boycott of Israeli products.
