Malaysia supports global effort for Palestinian statehood

New Straits Times

5 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has welcomed the growing international consensus to condemn Israel and support the push for Palestinian statehood.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the recent High‑Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and Implementation of the Two‑State Solution in New York garnered broad backing for the two‑State solution.
The meeting also urged urgent and sustained humanitarian aid, along with other supporting measures.
"We welcome the international community's shift to condemn Israel and move towards pragmatic, action-oriented measures to resolve the question of granting a Palestinian statehood," he said in a statement on Saturday.
Earlier, media reports indicated that the United Kingdom and France are among the latest countries preparing to formally recognise the State of Palestine.
To date, more than 145 countries have extended formal recognition to Palestine.
Meanwhile, Malaysia has reiterated its strong condemnation of the Israeli Zionist regime's continued atrocities in Gaza, voicing deep concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Mohamad said the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, following the relentless genocide and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Israel, has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, injured nearly 150,000, and forcibly displaced 1.9 million amid the continued aggression.
He said the continued blockade has choked humanitarian aid deliveries, caused severe shortages of food, water and medical supplies, and raising urgent fears of famine, with thousands, especially children, already facing starvation.
"We are also deeply alarmed by the unfolding humanitarian crisis that the world has witnessed silently for the past 22 months.
"Malaysia reiterates in the strongest terms that the Israeli Zionist regime must stop the killings, cease all attempts at forced displacement of Palestinians, and immediately end all blockade of humanitarian access and ensure unimpeded access of humanitarian aid.
"Failure by Israel is a violation of international law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law," he said.
Meanwhile, Mohamad urged an investigation into the brutal killings of more than 1,300 Palestinians who were waiting in line to receive aid from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) since late May this year.
"These killings are preposterous and must be investigated, with the perpetrators brought to justice," he said.
Mohamad said Malaysia reaffirmed its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and their inalienable right to self-determination.
"We remain steadfast in supporting the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and Palestine's rightful membership in the United Nations," he said.– BERNAMA