Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their firm commitment to the Palestinian cause and called for lasting peace in Gaza, following a high-level telephone conversation between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
The talks, held amid shifting dynamics in the Israel-Gaza conflict, came a day after Hamas welcomed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for Israel to halt its military campaign. Trump’s proposed peace plan sets a 72-hour timeline for hostage releases, a phased Israeli pullout, and the creation of a technocratic authority under international supervision to administer Gaza.
While Hamas did not accept all of Trump’s conditions — particularly disarmament — it expressed readiness for immediate talks on hostages and a ceasefire, describing Trump’s stance as “encouraging.”
During the call, Dar and his Saudi counterpart reviewed ongoing diplomatic engagements involving eight Arab-Islamic countries and the United States in New York. These discussions aim to secure an immediate and durable ceasefire, ensure unhindered humanitarian aid, and advance a comprehensive peace settlement.
Dar appreciated Saudi Arabia’s active and constructive role in these efforts, as both sides reiterated their shared commitment to a two-state solution and agreed to remain closely engaged with regional and international partners to promote a just and lasting peace.
Earlier in the day, Dar welcomed Hamas’ statement as a “critical step” toward ending the bloodshed in Gaza.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also voiced cautious optimism, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Alhamdolillah, we are closer to a ceasefire than we have been since this genocide was launched on the Palestinian people.”
He thanked Trump and regional leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia - who met on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly - for their efforts to resolve the Palestinian crisis.
“The statement issued by Hamas creates a window for a ceasefire and peace that we must not allow to close again,” Shehbaz said, pledging that Pakistan will continue working with “brotherly nations” to pursue “everlasting peace” in Palestine.
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