ISLAMABAD- Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations MunirAkram on Sunday called on the UN Security Council to initiate steps to holdIsrael accountable for its war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“Above all, the Security Council must promote the full implementation ofthe relevant UN resolutions especially for the realization of the two-statesolution through the establishment of a viable, independent and contiguousPalestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as itscapital,” Akram told the Security Council’s open videoconference debatededicated to discussing the recent escalation of violence in Israel, Gazaand East Jerusalem.

“In the grim backdrop of the deteriorating situation in the region, we urgethe Security Council to fulfill its Charter obligations, to call for animmediate halt to Israel’s use of disproportionate and arbitrary force, tooffer protections to the Palestinian civilians who are bearing the brunt ofthe Israeli attacks, and to ensure Israel’s full compliance withinternational humanitarian and human rights laws, including the right tolife, freedom of worship, movement and peaceful assembly,” said theambassador.

Israel must be asked to stop all unilateral and illegal steps includingsettlements and attempts to change the status of Jerusalem, noted Akram,who is currently president of the UN Economic and Social Council.

“Pakistan condemns Israel’s use of indiscriminate and disproportionateforce, including aerial bombing, resulting in the deaths of nearly 200Palestinians, including dozens of women and children, as well asdestruction of civilian infrastructure,” he said.

“We also strongly condemn Israel’s deliberate and systematic assaultagainst Palestinian worshippers in the Haram-al-Sharif, including theAl-Aqsa mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, its violation of thesanctity of these holy sites, its continued policy of expansion of itsillegal settlements, its forced evictions of Palestinians and demolition oftheir homes, and its targeting of journalists and international mediaoutlets in the occupied Palestinian territories,” said the ambassador.

These Israeli actions are unacceptable and in contravention of the norms ofinternational law. They violate UN Security Council and General Assemblyresolutions, and have grave implications for the maintenance of peace andsecurity in the region and beyond, he added.