ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani diplomat has called for Israel to be held accountable for crimes committed during its 15-month war in Gaza, especially the suffering of Palestinian children, which he described as “a black mark on humanity.”
Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, spoke at a UN Security Council meeting about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The meeting was convened at the request of Russia, Pakistan, Somalia, and Sierra Leone to focus on the plight of children in Gaza.
“Over 46,000 people have been killed, most of them women and children. How can this be justified?” Ambassador Akram asked.
He condemned Israel’s targeting of civilians, especially women and children, and questioned the moral justification for such actions. “What moral degradation allows something like that to happen?” he asked.
The ambassador also criticized the Security Council’s inaction over the last 15 months, which he said allowed the suffering to continue. “The suffering of children in Gaza is not just the fault of those who caused it but also of those who allowed it to happen,” he said.
While welcoming the ceasefire brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, Akram noted that it could have come much sooner and called for its full implementation, he stressed the importance of humanitarian aid, urging the international community to ensure that all border crossings be opened for aid delivery and that UNRWA’s operations continue.
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Ambassador Akram concluded by calling for accountability for Israeli actions and the restoration of international legitimacy to prevent such atrocities from recurring.
Earlier, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher highlighted the ceasefire’s role in enabling the flow of humanitarian aid but pointed out the immense suffering of Palestinian children. “Children have been killed, starved, and maimed,” Fletcher said. “Over 17,000 children are currently without their families.”
He also highlighted the urgent need for funding, with the 2025 Flash Appeal needing $4.07 billion to help three million people in Gaza and the West Bank. “The children of Gaza are not just a side effect,” Fletcher said. “They deserve safety, education, and hope, just like children everywhere.”
The Security Council also heard from Bisan Nateel, who helps Palestinian children through art. She shared stories of children’s basic dreams of going back to school and playing with friends, which have been broken by violence and being forced to move.
“Children are no longer able to understand what it means to live,” Nateel said, recounting the trauma experienced by children in Gaza. She displayed a drawing by a child named Gazi, who lost his life with his father when their tent was attacked.
The Security Council called for continued efforts to protect the children of Gaza and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
