Pakistan, Aug. 9 -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the Israeli cabinet's approval of a plan to assume "illegal and illegitimate" control of Gaza, calling it a dangerous escalation in an already catastrophic war against Palestinians.

In a statement posted on X, the premier warned that the expansion of military operations in Gaza would deepen the ongoing humanitarian crisis and derail any prospect for peace in the region.

PM Shehbaz stressed that the root cause of the tragedy lay in Israel's prolonged and illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, adding that peace would remain elusive as long as this occupation continued.

Reaffirming Pakistan's unwavering support for the Palestinian people, he reiterated their ...