KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaking at a retreat session of the Asean-Australia Special Summit, Anwar said all Asean member states and Australia voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution in December last year, which demanded for a humanitarian ceasefire.
"We should urge for this demand (for ceasefire in Gaza) to be realised - immediately and permanently," he said.
He added Malaysia also implored the international community to take bolder actions to compel Israel's adherence to the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice in January and urge all parties to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.
"I believe we can agree that all countries, without exception, are bound by international law. No country should be allowed to continue violating these laws with impunity. There should be no double standards."
Anwar added that day by day, the situation in Gaza continues to worsen.
"To date, more than 30,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed, including more than 8,000 women and 12,000 children. Innocent babies are dying of starvation and famine appears imminent," he said.
Anwar added the provision of safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians throughout Gaza must be allowed to resume and be sustained.
In his speech, Anwar said Malaysia also called on countries not to prejudge the outcome of the investigation into the recent allegations involving several United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) personnel and reconsider the collective punishment imposed.
"We appeal to these countries to reinstate their financial support to UNWRA."
Anwar said collectively, Asean and Australia can play a constructive role within the international community towards finding a peaceful and durable solution to the conflict.
"As responsible state actors, we are bound by the UN Charter and international law to uphold fundamental principles for justice.
"The right to self-determination that we demand and value for ourselves should also be protected and upheld for the Palestinians.
"The end of the decades-old Israel occupation of the Palestinian territories is fundamental for a viable two-state solution as well as enduring peace and security in the Middle East.
"We must also not deny that Israel's aggression has further exacerbated divisions and prejudices between Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide, fuelling the dangerous spread of Islamophobia, which must be stopped.
"We should socialise the fact that what is happening in Gaza is not about religion but a crisis of humanity. We should advocate embracing our differences so communities could live together in harmony."