Pakistan condemns Israel’s ceasefire violations, warns of worsening food crisis in Gaza

• Rana Tanveer Hussain praises FAO staff for operating in Gaza under ‘life-threatening conditions’
• He calls Pakistan’s re-election to the FAO Council in Rome a reflection of international confidence

KARACHI: Pakistan on Tuesday condemned Israel’s repeated ceasefire violations in Gaza and voiced alarm over a deepening humanitarian and food crisis in the war-battered territory, urging the immediate enforcement of a truce and unhindered aid flows.

Speaking at the 179th session of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Council in Rome, Pakistan’s food security minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said civilians in Gaza were facing acute deprivation, widespread displacement and collapsing essential services as hostilities continued.

He also praised FAO staff for operating under “life-threatening conditions” in the area.

“The situation has reached a critical point,” Hussain told the Council, according to a statement circulated by the national food security ministry.

Israel’s “repeated ceasefire violations” had aggravated the humanitarian emergency, he continued, adding the international community “cannot remain indifferent to the mounting human suffering and the rapidly worsening food insecurity in the besieged territory.”

Commending FAO’s continued presence in Gaza, Hussain said its work “urgently requires reinforced international support.”

He called for a full ceasefire, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access, and “resolute international measures” to prevent further loss of life and avert a famine.

Pakistan, a founding member of FAO, is currently serving on the Council for the 2024–2026 term and was elected by consensus to continue unopposed for 2027–2029.

Hussain said the decision reflected international confidence in Pakistan’s engagement as FAO prepares for governance and operational reforms over the coming years.

He noted that Pakistan’s membership of the FAO Finance Committee positioned it to help shape the agency’s budgetary and administrative policies, adding that Islamabad would support efforts to strengthen resource management, accountability and assistance to vulnerable food systems worldwide.

Hussain is also scheduled to hold meetings with the FAO Director-General and Italy’s agriculture minister to discuss cooperation in agriculture, food security and capacity-building, the statement said.