KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will continue to stand in strong solidarity with the people of Palestine, urging international communities to speak out against Israeli aggression.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said Malaysia had continuously and consistently condemned "in the strongest terms" the incursion and attacks by the Israeli Occupation Forces against Palestinian civilians and worshippers in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The country, he said, also condemned all forced evictions of Palestinians from their homes and Israel's continued military airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since last week.
"These atrocious, disproportionate, and excessive attacks by Israel are in total and blatant disregard of all international laws.
"Furthermore, these acts are in violation of the United Nations (UN) Charter, and a war crime under the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention," he said in his speech during the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) virtual open-ended extraordinary meeting today.
Hishammuddin said while Malaysia had strongly and publicly demanded Israel to immediately cease its hostilities and attacks against Palestine, the international community cannot choose to remain silent and oblivious to these atrocities committed by Israel.
"It is an insult when other countries come out and speak about the right of Israel to self-defence, and not a single word about the Palestinain right to self-defence when Palestinians are slaughtered, and have been occupied for over 50 years.
"'Lack of political will should no longer be tolerated as an excuse to perpetuate Israel's occupation further.
"As we speak, more homes are being demolished, more deaths are occurring, and more misery is being inflicted on the Palestinians."
He added that countries had "shamefully contributed" to encouraging the occupying power through inaction, while Israel continued to introduce more repressive policies and commit atrocious crimes with greater impunity.
In his speech, he also put forward six recommendations to move forward, including the need for OIC to urge the UN Security Council (UNSC) to rectify its failure, and shoulder its responsibility in maintaining peace and security.
Secondly, the OIC must urge the UN to provide international protection for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and third, pressure Israel through all legal, political and economic channels.
"Fourth, OIC member states need to urge civil societies worldwide to continue their struggle to call for accountability and highlight gross violations of international law.
"Fifth, while addressing the current crisis, the international community must continue to find a lasting solution to the conflict.
"Sixth and finally, Malaysia stresses the importance of all OIC member states to remain united in supporting the plight of the Palestinians," said Hishammuddin.