Latest news with #FourthGenevaConvention
The Star
3 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Thailand condemns Cambodian attacks on civilians, hospitals
BANGKOK: Thailand has strongly condemned Cambodia's "indiscriminate" attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and public facilities, including medical establishments, labelling them clear and severe violations of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Nikorndej Balankura, Director-General of the Department of Information and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered a statement outlining Bangkok's position. - Photo: The Nation/ANN He highlighted specific breaches, including Article 19 of the First Geneva Convention on the protection of medical units and establishments, and Article 18 of the Fourth Geneva Convention concerning the safeguarding of civilian hospitals. "Thailand vehemently condemns such inhumane actions, which clearly contravene obligations under the Geneva Conventions," Nikorndej stated. - Photo: The Nation/ANN He confirmed that the Thai government will dispatch a formal letter to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), vehemently denouncing these "severe breaches of international humanitarian law." - The Nation/ANN
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Thailand calls for UNSC support
Thailand has officially submitted a letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), presenting evidence that Cambodia initiated the armed conflict in the latest exchanges of gunfire between the two countries. Maratee Nalita Andamo, deputy spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Friday that Cambodia has submitted a letter to the UNSC, requesting an emergency meeting to address the border conflict. In its letter, Cambodia accuses Thailand of violating its sovereignty -- an accusation Thailand firmly rejects. "This claim is completely contrary to the facts," Ms Maratee said. Presenting evidence to UN "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already submitted a formal letter to the UNSC to clarify the situation, including evidence that Cambodian forces initiated the violence. Their actions led to numerous Thai casualties, both deaths and injuries, and clearly constitute an act of aggression against Thailand's sovereignty." She added that Thailand has requested the UNSC President circulate the Thai letter among member states to ensure the international community is fully informed of the facts. She said a closed-door meeting was held on Friday at 3pm local time in New York to discuss the border situation. She clarified that such meetings are standard practice when armed clashes occur between states and are not intended for passing any resolutions. Instead, the session will serve as an official forum for the parties involved, along with the 15 member states of the UN Security Council -- both permanent and non-permanent members -- to present and receive factual information. Thailand's permanent representative to the UN in New York will attend the session on behalf of the Thai government. "Cambodia has initiated a series of intense attacks against Thailand, targeting not only military objectives but also causing significant harm to Thai civilians, particularly in residential communities and critical public facilities such as hospitals. These attacks have resulted in multiple deaths and injuries,'' Ms Maratee said. International law violation She said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a clear statement condemning the actions of the Cambodian armed forces as a serious violation of international law and has downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia accordingly. The Thai government is demanding that Cambodia take responsibility for a number of incidents, including cases where Thai soldiers stepped on landmines on July 16 and 23, and immediately cease attacks on all targets, both military personnel and civilians. Ms Maratee further emphasised that Cambodia's actions violate international law, specifically the First Geneva Convention, which protects state hospitals, and the Fourth Geneva Convention, which safeguards medical units. In a special cabinet session convened under the framework of the National Security Council on Thursday, the government approved resolutions authorising the armed forces to take necessary actions to safeguard Thailand's sovereignty and downgrade diplomatic ties. Anwar proposes mediation Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai yesterday said that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his capacity as Asean chair, contacted him directly by phone on Thursday and discussed the border situation, subsequently posting on his personal Facebook page about his wish to act as a neutral intermediary. 'Civilians as human shields' The Facebook page "Army Military Force – Reserve" has released footage showing that the Cambodian artillery firing into Thai territory was positioned dangerously close to civilian residential areas. "Cambodia is using its own civilians as human shields. We have compiled clips from July 24 to 25 July showing Cambodian soldiers placing multiple rocket launcher systems, including BM-21 and RM-70, within communities and agricultural areas in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces." Thaksin's mood Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra took to the social media platform X late on Thursday to express gratitude for the concern and diplomatic outreach, but said the Thai military should first be allowed to "teach a lesson" to Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, whom he described as "deceptive" and whom he likened to the historical figure Phraya Lawaek. Thaksin's remarks come amid rising tensions and armed clashes along the border, and have sparked debate over the tone and timing of political messaging during such a potentially explosive military standoff.
The Diplomat
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Why Is Taiwan Supporting an Illegal Israeli Settlement in the Occupied West Bank?
Taiwan's decision to donate to a medical facility located in the illegal Israeli settlement of Sha'ar Binyamin in the occupied West Bank earlier this month sparked a firestorm of controversy. It marked the first time since late 2023 that a foreign state has made such a public display of providing direct financial support for a project inside an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. At first glance, Taiwan's aid may appear purely humanitarian. In March and May 2024, Taiwan's representative office in Israel donated NT$15.9 million (approximately US$500,000) to support medical patrols in Israeli cities and to provide basic humanitarian assistance – such as food, water, and shelter – through an NGO operating in Gaza. However, more recently, Taiwan became the first foreign government to provide funding for a medical center located within an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. A ceremonial event marking the donation took place in July 2025, attended by senior Israeli officials and Taiwan's representative in Israel who, by her very visit to an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank, effectively recognized Israel's unlawful occupation. At a press conference on July 22, a spokesperson for Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that 'discussions about the donation were still ongoing and centered solely on humanitarian and medical cooperation.' The West Bank, where the settlement regional council of Binyamin is located, is an occupied territory under international law. The establishment and expansion of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) are illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention, which among other provisions protects civilian populations in occupied territory. These settlements thus constitute a war crime. The illegality of Israeli settlements has been reiterated by the United Nations, the European Union, and numerous international NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Most notably, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in 2004 already found that Israeli settlements are contrary to the Fourth Geneva Convention, affirmed the illegality of Israel's occupation of the OPT in its July 2024 advisory opinion. The ICJ concluded that: [A]ll States are under an obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They are also under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel's illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Support or aid to any infrastructure projects in the settlements, even under the guise of medical donations, contributes to the maintenance and entrenchment of unlawful Israeli occupation. Any support provided to Israeli settlements, including medical care, should also be seen in the context of Israel's decades-long systematic and institutionalized discrimination against Palestinians, including in access to healthcare, which has resulted in stark health inequalities between Palestinians and Israelis. Compounding this inequality are Israel's arbitrary restrictions on Palestinian freedom of movement, ability to access clinics and adequate healthcare. Just in recent months, Israeli authorities have repeatedly obstructed West Bank Palestinians' access to life-saving healthcare, at times with lethal consequences. When Taiwan chooses to fund projects that exclusively serve Israeli settlers – Palestinians are barred from living in Israeli settlements – it contributes to legitimizing and maintaining Israel's system of apartheid. This is not only a violation of international law, but also undermines Taiwan's own image as a democracy rooted in human rights and equality. The grim reality on the ground sharply contrasts with the statements of Taiwan's representative in Israel, Abby Ya-Ping Lee. At the event celebrating the medical center in the settlement, Lee said: 'We are pleased to expand this cooperation to the regional level, through initial work with a regional council to save lives and to ensure the right to health regardless of ethnicity, age, or gender.' The very settlement enterprise that this donation supports and empowers is rooted in national, racial and ethnic domination over Palestinians. Israeli authorities continue to systematically and deliberately destroy or damage the healthcare sector in Gaza and deny or obstruct the entry of essential medical provisions. Israel also adopts unlawful measures that result in the erosion of the Palestinian healthcare system in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Taiwan must take a principled and rights-based approach – which would look like supporting Gaza's decimated healthcare system and Palestinian healthcare facilities facing severe challenges in the West Bank, rather than investing in infrastructure serving illegal settlements. Donations, even in the guise of humanitarian aid, to illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT only serve to make them sustainable, thus entrenching a violation of international law. Taiwan has long sought greater international recognition and has positioned itself as a defender of liberal values, democratic governance, and global solidarity. These aspirations should extend to its foreign aid strategy. If Taiwan is to be seen as a responsible and genuine global actor, it must ensure that its humanitarian assistance – especially in conflict zones – is neutral, impartial, transparent, and consistent with international legal norms. In conflict zones where aid is often politicized, humanitarian neutrality is not a luxury – it is a mandatory and an international obligation. Taiwan's well-intentioned support can have meaningful impact, but only if it is grounded in impartiality and a commitment to upholding international law. This is not just about diplomacy; it is about ensuring that Taiwan's actions abroad reflect the values it upholds at home and ensuring that it does not engage in actions that could risk Taiwan being complicit in Israel's violations of international law.
Barnama
4 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Malaysia Strongly Condemns Israel's Motion To Annex The West Bank
A Wisma Putra logo is seen in this picture. PUTRAJAYA, July 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia unreservedly condemns a recent motion by the Israeli Knesset to annex the occupied West Bank, describing it as a provocative act and an outright disregard for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry said the Zionist regime's decision on July 23 constitutes a blatant violation of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention. 'It further violates several United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions, namely Resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), and 2334 (2016), that invalidate any attempt to legitimise the regime's illegal occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). bootstrap slideshow 'This decision is another provocation and clear manifestation of the regime's blatant disregard for the Palestinian legitimate rights to self-determination, rights to return, and rights to resist occupation as enshrined in the UN Charter,' it said in a statement Friday. The regime's continuous aggression is emboldened by decades of impunity and lack of accountability for its actions in the OPT, it added. Malaysia called on the international community and the UN to reject the motion unequivocally and to take concrete steps to halt Israel's systematic violation of international law, the statement said. If allowed to manifest, the international community would be equally complicit in the gravest of war crimes of this century committed by the Israeli Zionist regime against the Palestinian people, the statement further said. The ministry reaffirmed Malaysia's unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and their inalienable right to self-determination, supporting the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and its rightful membership in the UN. Members of the Israeli Knesset on Wednesday voted 71-13 in favour of "annexing" the Palestinian territory, according to international media.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Malaysia condemns Israel's West Bank annexation motion
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has issued a firm condemnation of Israel's recent motion to annex the occupied West Bank, denouncing it as a provocative act that disregards Palestinian rights. The Foreign Ministry stated that the decision by the Israeli Knesset on July 23 breaches international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention. The ministry highlighted that the motion violates key United Nations Security Council resolutions, including Resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), and 2334 (2016), which reject any attempts to legitimise Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. 'This decision is another provocation and clear manifestation of the regime's blatant disregard for Palestinian rights to self-determination, return, and resistance against occupation as guaranteed by the UN Charter,' the statement read. Malaysia accused Israel of acting with impunity due to decades of unchecked aggression in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The ministry urged the international community and the UN to take decisive action against Israel's systematic violations of international law. 'If this motion proceeds, the world will be complicit in one of the gravest war crimes of this century,' the statement warned. Reaffirming its support for Palestine, Malaysia called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and full UN membership. The Israeli Knesset passed the motion with a 71-13 vote on Wednesday, according to international reports. - Bernama
