Malaysia has reiterated its call to the United Nations Security Council to take united and decisive action to stop the war in Gaza which has gone on for more than 100 days and to save civilian lives.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the Security Council's inability to call for a ceasefire is partly responsible for the carnage in Gaza.

“Just last week, Under Secretary-General Martin Griffith said that Gaza is 'a stain on our collective conscience', and that our inaction would become a permanent mark on humanity. Indeed, the (Security) Council’s inability to call for a ceasefire is partly responsible for what is now over a hundred days of carnage in Gaza.

"More than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed. On average, 246 Palestinians are killed every day, or 10 murders every hour.

"Malaysia is appalled that Israel has been allowed to carry out what can only be described as indiscriminate bombing on homes, shelters, evacuation routes, and medical centres," he said

Mohamad was delivering Malaysia's statement at the UNSC open debate on the Situation in the Middle East Including the Palestinian Question held in New York on Tuesday (Jan 24).

Malaysia, he said, demanded accountability for Israel's clear violations of international law and supported the decision by South Africa to institute proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice.

"The lack of accountability for Israel’s war crimes, undermines the legitimacy of international law, and efforts towards ending the illegal occupation of Palestine.

"In upholding international law, and the rights of the oppressed, Malaysia, on July 23, 2023, along with 56 other countries, submitted a written statement, for the 'Advisory Opinion, on the legal consequences, of Israel’s ongoing violations, in the Palestinian territory' at the ICJ.

"Malaysia will now also participate at the Public Hearing on Feb 19," he added.

Mohamad said Malaysia condemned Israel’s apartheid practices, and persecution against the Palestinian people, in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

As a Member State of the United Nations, Israel must respect and implement the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

"The Council cannot allow Israel to behave like the exception to the rule.

"Malaysia calls for the full and swift implementation of Security Council Resolutions 2712 and 2720.

"In October and December last year, the overwhelming majority of Member States in voting for two General Assembly resolutions, demanding the protection of civilians, and the upholding of legal, as well as humanitarian obligations in relation to Gaza.

"The majority has spoken, and their demands should not be ignored. We are witnessing a great historical irony in Gaza. The State of Israel was born from the horrors of the Second World War. And yet, for the past 75 years, it has been inflicting, that same deliberate destruction on the Palestinian people, and is now pursuing it to its premeditated end.

"This illegal and immoral pogrom of total annihilation should bring us to a single decision, by members of this Council.

"It is time to recognise what Israel has been doing, as genocide. And it is time to accept the State of Palestine, as a full Member of the United Nations."

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by The Star Online

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