Pakistan forms committee to identify, boycott businesses supporting Israel

Pakistan on Saturday formed a committee to identify companies to boycott for supporting Israel in its offensive on Gaza.

“A committee has also been constituted to identify such companies and products in Pakistan that may be directly or indirectly abetting Israel or forces committing war crimes against Palestinians,” said Rana Sanaullah, adviser on political affairs to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The move came after a deal between the government and a far-right political party called Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

TLP held a rally and sit-in in the city of Rawalpindi near the capital Islamabad, which ended late on Friday after the agreement was announced.

The accord demands authorities provide further humanitarian assistance for Palestinians and ban all products of companies supporting Israel.

Islamabad also urged the world to designate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a terrorist and said Pakistan already considers him as such.

Netanyahu is responsible for atrocities committed by Israeli forces in Palestine, and we consider him a terrorist and demand the world community declare Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu a terrorist

the agreement says.

Alongside TLP representatives, Sanaullah told reporters in Islamabad that Israel is a terrorist country and Netanyahu has committed war crimes.

WATCH: Boycott Israel or you will be a ‘murderer’

“Pakistan will use every possible means to help Palestinians and condemn Israel as a terrorist country,” Sanaullah said.

He added that the TLP and government also agreed to accelerate efforts to provide 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, including food, medicine, and other items.

Sanaullah called on the world, and especially the global Muslim community, to hold Netanyahu accountable and bring him to justice.

The official said Islamabad was also ready to bring injured Palestinians to Pakistan in the case of the Palestinian Authority making any such arrangements for their treatment.

“Our schools and hospitals are open for providing education and medical facilities to the innocent Palestinians,” he said.

Earlier this month, Pakistan announced it would provide scholarships to Palestinian medical students from Gaza to continue their education in the South Asian country.

The Foreign Ministry said Palestinian students from Gaza would soon enrol in medical colleges in Pakistan in batches of 20-30.

READ: Pakistan announces scholarships for Palestinian medical students amid Israel attacks on Gaza