Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) leading a delegation met with H.E. Ahmed Jawad A.A. Rabaei during a visit to Palestine Embassy and showed solidarity with the Palestinian people. Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari presented a cheque of Rs.2.0 million on behalf of ICCI as a token of support for the people of Gaza who have been destroyed by the Israeli bombardment.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the business community and the Pakistani nation is very concerned over the cruelties being committed by the Israeli forces against the innocent Palestinian. He said the whole Muslim Ummah is standing along with the people of Palestine and urged that the Muslim rulers and the international community should make collective efforts to protect the Palestinians from the brutalities of Israel. He said that the genocide of the innocent Palestinians is not acceptable at all and stressed that the world powers should come forward to stop Israel from such brutalities. He said that Pakistan supports the right of self-determination and establishment of a secure & sovereign Palestinian state to end this conflict. He assured that the business community of Pakistan is always ready to extend all possible support to the Palestinian brothers and sisters to mitigate their sufferings.

H.E. Ahmed Jawad A.A. Rabaei briefed the ICCI delegation about the detail of casualties and destruction committed by Israel against the Palestinians. He said that about 10,000 Palestinians have been martyred so far by the Israeli forces in Gaza and other places out of which 80 percent are children and women. He said that out of total 35 hospitals, 11 hospitals have been destroyed and Israeli forces are threatening Palestinians to evacuate the rest of the hospitals otherwise, they would also be killed. He termed it a brutal genocide of innocent Palestinians, which needs to be stopped by the world powers. He thanked the ICCI delegation for showing solidarity with the Palestinians in this difficult time.

Faad Waheed, Senior Vice President ICCI said that Israel’s actions violate international humanitarian & human rights law and constitute war crimes as well as crimes against humanity. He stressed that the world community should play role to stop Israel from these war crimes.

Engr. Azhar ul Islam Zafar, Vice President ICCI called for an immediate ceasefire; an end to the siege of Gaza; and the facilitation of humanitarian corridors for unrestricted relief supplies to the affected Palestinians.

Zafar Bakhtawari, former President ICCI and Secretary General UBG said that the core issue behind the current war is the failure to implement the two-state solution. He stressed that the UN and other stakeholders should ensure an independent and sovereign state of Palestine to end this conflict once for all.

ICCI Executive Members including Maqsood Tabish, Hamayun Kabir, Aamir Hussain, Muhammad Rizwan Chheena, Sheikh Muhammad Ejaz, Malik Jalil Ahmed Awan, Dr. Muhammad Usman, Khalid Mehmood and others were in the ICCI delegation.