KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia today called for an immediate cessation and end to hostilities in the Middle East, which if left unchecked could lead to even more devastating consequences.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, commenting on Iran's attack on Israel following the latter's bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria on Apr 1, said any form of attack, offensive or defensive, will have consequences that if it spirals out of control, will ultimately lead to the death of many more innocent lives.
"Malaysia strongly urges all parties in the Middle East region to refrain and exercise great caution not to escalate the already tense situation.
"Malaysia further echoes the call by the United Nations Secretary General for an immediate cessation and end of these hostilities.
"The government of Malaysia urges the parties concerned to de-escalate and create the necessary environment to end this conflict immediately," he said in a statement.
Mohamad said the attacks by Iran was in response to the illegal bombing by Israel on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, 2024.
"Iran posits that its actions are an act of self-defence and is provided for in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. Once the attacks had ended, Iran, through its Permanent Mission at the UN, announced that it considers its actions against Israel justifiable and "can be deemed concluded".
"However, Iran asserts that should the Israeli regime or its allies were to "make another mistake, Iran's response will be considerably more severe" thus creating a never-ending cycle of violence," he said.
Mohamad reiterated Malaysia's stand that the main objective is to find peace and a permanent solution to the plight of the Palestinians people and not widen the conflict
"Any further form of provocation and/or retaliation could ignite a devastating region-wide conflict that will not serve the region nor the Palestinian cause.
"The international community is also reminded to not to lose sight of the objective of ensuring the freedom of Palestinians and their rights to own their lands.
Any distraction from this objective is what Israel wants, which is to deflect the global community's attention from their nefarious inhumane and unconscionable acts in Palestine," he said.