Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday voiced serious concerns over Israel’s continued military actions in Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement, warning that Muslim countries which supported the Gaza Peace Treaty may need to reconsider their position.
In a statement posted on X, Asif said that although a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hamas on October 9, Israeli forces have “continued to violate the truce, killing Palestinians including children.”
He added that the agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh aimed to stabilise the situation in the region, but Israel’s actions have raised doubts about its commitment to peace.
“As the violence continues, countries such as Turkiye, Egypt, and Qatar, which backed the peace pact, may need to reassess their stance,” the minister said. He noted that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had already expressed concerns, cautioning that the ceasefire should not be mistaken for a permanent settlement to the Palestinian question.
Asif highlighted that since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, at least 352 Palestinians have been killed, while more than 70,000 people have died in Gaza since the conflict began.
He further noted that Amnesty International has warned that “Israel’s genocide is not over” and urged the international community — especially Western governments — to continue pressuring Israel to comply with international law.
A central feature of the US-brokered Gaza Peace Agreement is the formation of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), composed largely of troops from Muslim-majority nations. However, some countries that initially supported the arrangement have since voiced reservations.
On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan was willing to contribute forces to the ISF, but would not participate in any effort to disarm Hamas.
“We are not ready for that. This is the responsibility of Palestinian law enforcement agencies,” Dar stated. “Our role is peacekeeping, not peace enforcement.”
