Taliban Government Condemns Israeli Attacks on Gaza

The Taliban government in Afghanistan condemned what it termed the 'ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza, including the assault on Shifa Hospital' on Friday, November 17. According to the Associated Press, the Taliban's Foreign Ministry stated that 'Israeli forces continuously violate all laws of war.' The statement did not mention the Hamas militants' attack on Israel on October 7, which left over 1,200 dead, most of whom were civilians. The Taliban urged the United Nations and human rights organizations to take a 'sincere, transparent, and fair stance on the crimes' to prevent ongoing violence if they truly believe in their declared values. The statement also called on Arab and Islamic countries to 'respond to the cries of the oppressed Muslims of Gaza and fulfill their religious and humanitarian responsibilities with effective and meaningful positions and actions.' The Associated Press noted that since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban has been repeatedly accused by the UN and human rights organizations of human rights violations, particularly against women. In this context, the UN announced about a month ago that it had recorded over 1,600 cases of human rights violations by the Taliban. The UN has urged the Taliban to stop torturing detainees and to protect the rights of prisoners.