Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman met with Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashal in Qatar on Sunday amid the war between the Palestinian group and Israel in Gaza.
A detailed exchange of views was held among leaders on the Palestine issue, according to a statement issued by the religiopolitical party’s spokesperson Aslam Ghauri on X, erstwhile Twitter.
The health ministry in the Gaza Strip said Sunday at least 9,770 people had been killed in the Palestinian territory since the war with Israel erupted last month. The ministry said at least 4,800 children were among those killed since Israel began striking the Gaza Strip in retaliation to the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas in southern Israel that Israeli officials say killed over 1,400, most of them civilians.
A delegation led by the JUI-F chief arrived in Qatar on Saturday. Fazl would also visit Turkiye, according to reports. The details of his visit were being “kept secret” due to security reasons.
He was also expected to meet government officials in Qatar and Turkiye and would try to push for a ceasefire. Rehman’s visit would be a week long and he would return on November 11. He could also visit Gaza refugee camps in Lebanon or Turkiye.
The visit to Gaza comes days after Rehman addressed a rally in Karachi to show solidarity with the people of Palestine. The rally had been named ‘Toofan-e-Aqsa’.
“Israel is attempting to change the status quo in Palestine through oppression and injustice, trying to alter the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque,” Rehman was quoted as saying in the meeting with Hamas leaders.
Advocates of developed countries have “blood-stained hands of innocent children and women,” the JUI-F chief said and added that Palestinians were not only fighting for their land but also waging a battle for the freedom of Al-Aqsa, fulfilling the duty of the Muslim Ummah.
“The time has come for the Muslim Ummah to stand shoulder to shoulder with Palestinian brothers in the field.”
He expressed his condolences and solidarity with the Palestinian people. The JUI-F chief assured them that they were standing by Palestinians side.
Hamas leader Haniyeh said that it was the duty of the Muslim Ummah to unite against Israeli injustices. Countries advocating for human rights were sailing ships filled with weapons to Tel Aviv-Yafo, he added.
“The Muslim Ummah should be in the field to support their Palestinian brothers, helping their mothers, sisters, and brothers,” Haniyeh said.
He praised Rehman for playing the role of Pakistan’s ambassador to Palestine.
“Kashmir and Palestine have long been a litmus test for advocates of human rights,” former Hamas head Khaled Mashal stated.
Haniyeh and Mashal conveyed their gratitude to the people of Pakistan and the workers of JUI for their support for the Palestinian people.
Rehman prayed for the high ranks of the martyrs and the quick recovery of the wounded.
In the meeting, JUI-F Sindh Secretary General Maulana Rashid Mahmood Soomro and Mufti Abrar Ahmed were also present.
