Pakistan, Muslim nations demand Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza
Pakistan
Pakistan and Muslim countries jointly denounced Israeli ceasefire violations and urged an immediate Gaza withdrawal during the Arab-Islamic foreign ministers’ meeting in Istanbul.
ISTANBUL (Web Desk) – Pakistan and several Muslim countries on Monday denounced Israel’s repeated violations of the fragile Gaza ceasefire and called for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territory, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO).
The demand was made during the Coordination Meeting of Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers on Gaza held in Istanbul, where Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar joined counterparts from Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. The meeting followed up on the earlier discussions held with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.
The participating countries expressed concern that the truce, established under a US-brokered agreement on October 9, continued to face breaches through unilateral Israeli bombardments. The ceasefire, which facilitated the exchange of hostages and prisoners, left key political and security issues unresolved, including the disarmament of Hamas and Israel’s timeline for withdrawal.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 along with other Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers, deliberated on the way forward for a lasting ceasefire and sustainable peace in Gaza.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) November 3, 2025
The leaders jointly called for urgent humanitarian aid for the… pic.twitter.com/sPG2sz1uXm
Calls for withdrawal
In a joint statement, the ministers condemned Israeli violations of the ceasefire and demanded the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. They emphasised the reconstruction of the besieged enclave and reaffirmed their support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
“The leaders jointly called for urgent humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, condemned Israeli ceasefire violations, demanded Israel’s withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and emphasised the rebuilding of Gaza,” the FO said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underscored that Gaza’s future must remain Palestinian-led and warned against any system of external control. “Our principle is that Palestinians should govern the Palestinians and ensure their own security,” he said, adding that the international community should support this “diplomatically, institutionally and economically”.
Push for UN mandate
Fidan said a United Nations-backed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) was being considered to oversee the ceasefire’s implementation. He emphasised that such a force should have a UN Security Council mandate to ensure legitimacy and international consensus.
“The countries we’ve spoken with will decide whether to send troops based on the ISF’s mandate and authority,” Fidan said, stressing that the decision must be free from vetoes by any permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Israel has opposed Turkiye’s potential participation in the proposed force due to Ankara’s close ties with Hamas. Turkish officials said a disaster relief team dispatched to assist recovery efforts in Gaza remained blocked at the border by Israeli authorities.
Pakistan-Turkiye ties
On the sidelines of the Istanbul meeting, Ishaq Dar held bilateral talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Both reaffirmed Pakistan and Turkiye’s shared commitment to enhancing cooperation across political, economic, and defence sectors, while agreeing to continue coordination on the issue of Palestine.
Pakistan, Turkiye call for establishing sustainable peace in Gaza
“The ministers expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Turkiye relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening cooperation,” the FO said, adding that both sides underscored the importance of a sustainable peace in Gaza.
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) November 3, 2025
Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, held a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Türkiye, H.E. Hakan Fidan @HakanFidan, on the sidelines of Ministerial Meeting on Gaza in Istanbul.
During the meeting, the ministers… pic.twitter.com/KJCzdu5blm
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing delegates from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), said Hamas appeared “determined” to uphold the truce and reiterated that Muslim countries must play a central role in Gaza’s reconstruction.
“It seems that Hamas is quite determined to adhere to the agreement,” Erdogan noted, urging OIC nations to lead humanitarian and rebuilding efforts. “At this point, we need to deliver more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and then begin reconstruction efforts,” he said.
