Page 10 - Pakistan Link - October 20, 2023

P10 - PAKISTAN LINK - OCTOBER 20, 2023 PAKISTAN

KARACHI: Thousands of men, women and chil- Protests Held across Pakistan been stopped” she said. "So, if Muslims do not
dren marched on Sunday in Pakistan's commer- stand up against that and against the martyrdoms
cial hub of Karachi to express solidarity with the that happened, who will stand up?"
Palestinian people amid relentless Israeli bom- in Solidarity with Gaza Quratul Ain, 17, said she attended the march
bardment on Gaza, which has forced nearly 1 mil- in solidarity with Palestinians, who were facing
lion people to flee their homes. an "imminent genocide."
Israel has intensified its bombardment of “The world needs to stand up and take a stand
Gaza since Palestinian group, Hamas, launched against what is happening. It is a genocide,” the
a multi-pronged attack on the Jewish nation last 17-year-old said.
week. The attack claimed at least 1,300 lives, while “It feels like an absolute luxury to us to have
Israel’s bombing of Gaza has resulted in the kill- a clean glass of water today, to be able to sleep
ing of at least 2,450 Palestinians. in a clean bed, and to have a peaceful life,” she
Israel has also blockaded Gaza, effectively pre- said, noting the people of Gaza were sleeping un-
venting food, fuel and water from reaching the der open skies without access to basic necessities.
densely populated territory of over two million Separately, members of the civil society gathered
people. The actions have drawn widespread anger outside the Karachi Press Club to express solidar-
and sparked protests in Pakistan. ity with Palestinians.
On Sunday, Jamaat-e-Islami, a Pakistani reli- “We stand against all violations of the inter-
gious party, organized a massive rally in Karachi, national humanitarian law,” said Shehzad Ghias
where the speakers warned of far-reaching con- Shaikh, a v-logger and influencer. "What's hap-
sequences of the Israeli aggression against the pening in Palestine is apartheid, it's genocide
Palestinians. and occupation, and we stand against all of those
“We want to emphasize that if Israel was not things."
stopped, it may lead to a third world war,” JI chief Dr Mehrub Moiz Awan, a transgender rights
Sirajul Haque warned, while addressing partici- activist, said the message of their march was to
pants of the rally on the city's main thoroughfare, ask the government to stand with the people of
Shahrah-e-Faisal… Palestine.
The rally drew large crowds of Pakistani peo- On Sunday, Jamaat-e-Islami organized a massive rally in Karachi, where the speakers warned of far- “We are standing against the colonization of
ple from different walks of life, who carried plac- reaching consequences of aggression against the Palestinians the land of Palestine and we are all for an end
ards in support of the people of Gaza. to the senseless, brutal occupation the people of
Zobia Ahmed, who attended the march along said the situation demanded of everyone to pro- “There are small kids, people who have been Gaza and Palestine have been facing for the past
with her husband, three daughters and parents, test Israeli actions. oppressed, the supply of food, and everything has many years,” Awan said… - Arab News

KARACHI: In a show of solidarity President Alvi Visits Palestinian Embassy of essential medical supplies, tents, and
with the Palestinian people, Paki- blankets departed Islamabad for Egypt.
stani President Arif Alvi on Thurs- These items will be transferred to Gaza
day visited the Palestine Embassy in as Pakistan Sends Aid to Gaza from Egypt, Foreign Ministry spokes-
Islamabad, as the South Asian na- woman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a
tion flew tons of humanitarian aid weekly news briefing in Islamabad.
for the people of Gaza. "Pakistan remains concerned about
According to a statement issued by the situation of our Palestinian brothers
the Presidency, Alvi met with Palestin- and sisters in Gaza. We strongly con-
ian Ambassador Ahmed Jawad Rabei demn the Israeli aggression and block-
and expressed solidarity with the Pal- ade, particularly the recent attack on a
estinian people on behalf of the gov- Gaza hospital,” she said, adding that Tel
ernment and people of Pakistan. Aviv's actions "violate international hu-
"The United Nations should de- manitarian and human rights law."
bate the atrocities that happened in Gaza is experiencing a dire humani-
Palestine, and the UNSC should pass tarian crisis, with no electricity, while
a resolution to stop Israeli atrocities," water, food, fuel, and medical supplies
Alvi said. are running out.
Pakistan and Israel do not have dip- UN Secretary-General Antonio
lomatic relations. Guterres has called for an “immedi-
“On behalf of the Pakistani peo- ate humanitarian ceasefire” to ease the
ple, we condemn the brutalities hap- “epic human suffering.”
pening in Gaza, the disproportionate At least 3,785 Palestinians have
reaction of Israel, and the apartheid killed. In fact, the hospital in Gaza ness,” the president said. manitarian assistance to the besieged been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza,
for the last 30-40 years. We condemn was bombed and more than 500 peo- Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan said Gaza Strip via Egypt. while the figure stands at more than
that people are being brutalized and ple died. All this creates more bitter- it was sending the first batch of hu- A chartered plane carrying 100 tons 1,400 people in Israel. - AA

KARACHI: As the humanitarian situ- Pakistani NGOs Beset by ‘Visa Denials’ Mr Baig also appealed to people
ation in Gaza becomes desperate after to support their relief efforts and help
days of relentless bombing by Israeli those stuck in Gaza.
forces, global aid organizations have in Quest to Help Gazans “A total blockade of food, water,
said the time was “running out to save fuel and electricity has been imposed
millions of people” in the Gaza Strip. on Gaza, creating a humanitarian cri-
Yet, no aid is being allowed inside the Egyptian side, but the North African Alternative ways to help ing food and medical aid for the Pales- sis on a massive scale. Palestinians are
besieged enclave. country was “refusing visas to Paki- As it was impossible to send relief tinians who have escaped from Gaza. looking towards their fellow Pakistani
Like global aid agencies, non-gov- stanis. goods to Gaza, some NGOs in Paki- “They are homeless. Besides, win- Muslims to come to their aid at this
ernmental organizations in Pakistan He recalled that three years stan have joined hands with global ter is also approaching. The money we crucial moment. I appeal to the public
are also ready to provide humanitar- ago, when Israel was bombing organizations to send money to the collect will help buy food and aid for to step forward and donate generously
ian assistance to Palestinians, but they Gaza, his organizations tried to besieged region. them.” for this cause,” he said.
cite blockade and logistical issues as reach Gaza via Rafah, “but then Mr Chamdia said his organiza- Alkhidmat Foundation, the relief
key challenges. Egypt turned down our visa ap- tion has found a way to send money wing of Jamaat-i-Islami, has also part- No political motives
“All routes to Gaza are closed. It’s plications”. to Gaza. nered with international aid organiza- Mr Edhi said aid organizations
all sealed,” Faisal Edhi of the Edhi Amjad Chamdia of Saylani Welfare “We are joining hands with NGOs tions and NGOs that have access to only want to help people and don’t
Foundation told Dawn, adding his Trust also said going to Gaza through from Turkiye to help them,” he ex- the area to send relief goods. have any political motives.
heart bleeds for the Palestinians. any country was not possible. plained. The foundation’s Karachi CEO, “But we are being stopped from
While all crossings into Gaza from “Even people from neighboring He added that in a day, Saylani Naveed Ali Baig, said his organiza- even doing that,” said a dejected Mr
Israel are closed, the only entry point countries cannot reach there as bor- Welfare Trust will start a donation tion “has stepped up relief activities Edhi.
is the Rafah crossing between Gaza ders are sealed,” he said. drive for the people of Gaza. “The for people in Gaza in the wake of the According to Alkhidmat Founda-
and Egypt. According to Mr Chamdia, the money will be used in feeding the increased aggression by Israel”. tion’s Mr Baig, thousands of men,
However, that, too, has been left in- people of Gaza have no food, water, people of Gaza who have succeeded in He disclosed that Alkhidmat’s vol- women and children are severely
operable due to Israeli air strikes. electricity or cooking gas. exiting the besieged enclave.” unteers were providing food, water, wounded due to “the incessant and in-
According to Mr Edhi, aid agen- “Everything has been cut off, and The organization will also work medical supplies and other necessary discriminate carpet bombing by Israe-
cies in Pakistan could enter from the they are being tortured and killed.” with Turkish NGOs who are provid- items to the Palestinian civilians. li forces and in need of help”. - Dawn
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