Pakistan’s government declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “terrorist” on Friday, demanding that he face justice for alleged war crimes against Palestinians. Rana Sanaullah, advisor to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on political and public affairs, made the statement during a significant demonstration in Islamabad.
Sanaullah announced that a committee would be established to identify and address Pakistani companies and products that may be supporting Israeli actions against Palestinians. This move came as thousands of Pakistanis rallied in the capital, protesting the Israeli military actions in Gaza and calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Despite lacking formal trade relations with Israel, many demonstrators called for a boycott of Israeli and Western products perceived as supporting Israel. Sanaullah emphasized that Pakistan would not only boycott Israeli goods but also target companies indirectly linked to Israel’s alleged war crimes.
The Pakistani government also committed to sending over 1,000 tons of relief supplies to Palestinians by the end of the month, in accordance with promises made to the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party, which supported the protests.
The sit-in, held at a major interchange connecting Islamabad to Rawalpindi, caused significant traffic disruptions. In a show of solidarity, Hamas praised Pakistan’s stance, and the government recently announced scholarships for Palestinian medical students from Gaza to study in Pakistan.
The protest and government’s actions highlight Pakistan’s strong stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza amid ongoing regional tensions.