JI: Makkah Pact Palestine Demand at Gaza March
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem says the Makkah pact Palestine priority should be the defence arrangement’s foremost objective, calling for the pact among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to be expanded to include Iran, Bangladesh and other Muslim countries.
Addressing thousands of participants at a Gaza March organised by the JI in Karachi on Sunday, Naeem said the first objective of the defence arrangement should be to end Israeli aggression against Palestinians, particularly those living in Gaza.
He welcomed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, also called the Makkah Defence Alliance, which Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed on August 7. But he stressed that other Muslim countries should be brought into the arrangement for it to carry real weight.
What the JI chief demanded
Naeem said Israeli attacks on Gaza were continuing despite the ceasefire. He said Israel had failed to honour the terms agreed under the truce and enjoyed the backing of the United States.
“Instead of being divided along sectarian and geographical lines, the Muslim Ummah must unite to support the oppressed people of Palestine and Kashmir,” he said, adding that Shia and Sunni divisions should be set aside for a common struggle.
He said the Israeli bombardment of Gaza had continued despite the ceasefire, claiming that large areas of the territory had been destroyed. He said Palestinians were also being targeted in the West Bank, including children.
The JI leader said the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack had challenged Israel’s military strength, and the subsequent Israeli offensive had exposed the country’s policies before the international community. He described Hamas’s struggle as legitimate resistance and said the group had played an important role in ceasefire negotiations. He also called for intensified efforts for the freedom of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Naeem said the resistance of Palestinians showed that determination and courage could challenge even technologically superior forces. He said Muslim governments and armies had a responsibility to prevent further bloodshed in Palestine, and that Palestinians had continued to support Hamas despite three years of war.
Makkah pact Palestine: why the timing matters
The remarks land as Pakistan’s top leadership engages directly with the pact. Chief of Defence Forces Munir and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar are heading to Riyadh for a meeting on the Makkah agreement, with the Foreign Office saying the countries will review ongoing cooperation under the framework of the agreement.
Naeem said the first week of October would be observed in solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine. He also announced that the JI would unveil its future strategy after October 7 as part of its ongoing campaign against the petroleum levy, taxes and inflation.
The JI leader said the party and its charitable organisation Alkhidmat had sent relief worth Rs10 billion to Palestinians with public support.
FAQs
What did Hafiz Naeem say about the Makkah pact?
The JI chief said the defence pact among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye should be expanded to include Iran, Bangladesh and other Muslim countries, with Palestine as its foremost priority.
When was the Makkah defence agreement signed?
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, also called the Makkah Defence Alliance, on August 7.
Where did Naeem make these remarks?
He was addressing thousands of participants at a Gaza March organised by the JI in Karachi on Sunday.
What did he announce for October?
Naeem said the first week of October would be observed in solidarity with Gaza and Palestine, and that the JI would unveil its future strategy after October 7 as part of its campaign against the petroleum levy, taxes and inflation.
