The Foreign Office has said that it was appalled by an Israeli minister’s statement that expressed openness to the idea of Israel carrying out a nuclear strike on Gaza.

“We are appalled by statement of an Israeli minister threatening nuclear force against Palestinians,” the FO said in a post on X, erstwhile Twitter, on Monday. “Reflects an intention for ethnic cleansing & genocide.”

The FO stated that it was a “wakeup call” for the international community to the threat posed by Israeli aggression to regional peace, security, and stability.

The reaction comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disciplined a junior member of his cabinet who appeared to voice openness to the idea of Israel carrying out a nuclear strike on Gaza.

Israeli Heritage Minister Amihay Eliyahu said in a social media post: “It is clear to anyone who is sensible that the nuclear remark was metaphorical.”

But he added: “A strong and disproportionate response to terrorism is definitely required, which will clarify to the Nazis and their supporters that terrorism is not worthwhile.”

The League of Arab States said in a statement: “The racist statements of Israeli Minister Eliyahu are revealing. Not only does he admit that they possess a nuclear weapon, but he also confirms the reality of the Israelis’ abhorrent racist view towards the Palestinian people.”

In a media briefing on November 2, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan remained deeply concerned about the dire situation in occupied Palestine. “Israel’s relentless and indiscriminate bombing campaign, its inhumane siege of Gaza, and deliberate strikes against civilian targets including refugee camps, hospitals and apartment buildings has created an unacceptable humanitarian situation.”

When asked, she said that Pakistan has concerns about Israeli atrocities which were taking place in Gaza and the country believed that such atrocities amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, as was outlined by the Senate of Pakistan yesterday. “As far as the International Criminal Court is concerned, Pakistan is not party to the Rome Statute of ICC, and we are not a member of ICC.”