IT is appalling to witness the rise of the death toll within the past few weeks and the unimaginable suffering endured by civilians in the ongoing Gaza-Israel war. Among the most affected are innocent children, women and the elderly.
At the time of writing, the casualties stand at more than 7,000 Palestinians killed and approximately 18,000 more injured. Simultaneously, the Israeli side has reported more than 1,500 fatalities and 5,000 injuries.
The greater concern of the international community is the heavy bombardment and relentless airstrikes carried out by the Israeli forces in the besieged Gaza Strip. This is seen as a form of collective punishment and vengeful retaliation, which have caused the destruction of basic infrastructure such as shelters, school buildings and hospitals, and forced countless civilians to be displaced and made homeless. Looking at the gravity of the attacks, Israel's claim of the right to self-defence has been strongly criticised as a way to justify their acts of killing and bombardment, a gross violation of the provision stipulated in the Geneva Conventions 1949.
DENIED BASIC RIGHTS
Pertinent questions to ponder, though: how many more civilians are to be killed in order to end the war? And what is the proportionate number of Palestinians to be killed to justify the Israeli onslaught?
The recent remarks highlighting the proclivity of "human animals" among the Gazan people are alarming and unwelcome. It is more worrying when one of the global leaders asserts that the "fight must be without mercy", an indication of a sheer inclination towards wiping out non-combatant and defenceless people. For the past 16 years, innocent Palestinians have been living like convicts, guarded by concrete walls and barb wires, in the open-air prison of the Gaza Strip. And in this enclave, millions of Palestinians were deprived of their basic rights to a decent life under the Israeli apartheid regime.
Even the last few months have also shown that the Israeli right-wing government has been provoking tensions in Gaza with the aim of further intimidating the Palestinian people.
As tensions continue to mount in the coming days, there is an urgent need for all parties involved, including the world's major powers, to act in unison towards a ceasefire and to de-escalate the rapidly intensifying situation in the region. It is important to ensure the conflict does not spill over the whole region.
In echoing the call, Malaysia urges an immediate halt to the conflict and categorically condemns the Israeli regime's hostilities.
It is disheartening to see, until today, the deafening silence and stark hypocrisy of certain quarters known as strong human rights advocates. One cannot truly champion human rights while simultaneously turning a blind eye to the carnage unfolding in Palestine.
In telephone conversations and physical interactions, I spoke to a number of my counterparts and agreed that the conflict needs to be addressed urgently and, most importantly, needful assistance should be despatched without any hindrance.
The recent emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which deliberated on the escalating tensions and violence of the conflict, strongly condemned the unprecedented Israeli aggression against civilians.
Malaysia, as one of the OIC member states, agreed to adopt the Final Communique which stressed, among others, the immediate cessation of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, the immediate lifting of the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, and called upon countries and the international community to extend the immediate provision of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
In the same vein, Malaysia calls upon the international community to take decisive action to prevent further hostilities and urges the United Nations Security Council to fulfil its Charter-mandated responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. The recent United Nations General Assembly votes, which have received enormous support in favour of a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce, are indeed welcome.
EFFORTS TO CEASE HOSTILITIES
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibra-him, Malaysia consistently underscores the paramount importance of peace and an unimpeded humanitarian corridor into the Gaza Strip to urgently address the dire humanitarian crisis.
At the recent Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh, the prime minister seized the opportunity to engage in discussions with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman regarding the conflict's development.
This included efforts to de-escalate tensions and ensure the safety of civilians.
Given the stature of Saudi Arabia in the Muslim world, the kingdom's lead on the issue of Palestine holds a powerful impact in the region. Such a firm position vis-à-vis the conflict on humanitarian grounds is, indeed, commendable.
Through diplomatic efforts, Anwar also extended the discussions with Turkiye President Recep Tayyib Erdogan, whereby both countries explored joint efforts to contribute to the resolution of the deeply concerning conflict.
In Cairo, Anwar and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's discussion centred on efforts to cease hostilities, and open humanitarian corridors and safe passages for the delivery of aid to Gazans through the Rafah-Gaza border.
At this critical juncture, Malaysia expresses its readiness to provide immediate humanitarian assistance for the delivery of relief supplies through coordinated international efforts, particularly in the form of food and medical supplies.
These endeavours reflect Malaysia's unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause, especially to ease the plight of Palestinians who are severely deprived due to the conflict and the practice of the politics of dispossession by the Israeli regime for the past 75 years.
MALAYSIA'S COMMITMENT
As the stakes continue to rise, it is then incumbent upon Malaysia to voice out the conscience of the people on the values of justice, humanity, freedom, compassion and love.
Malaysia will continue to advocate for a peaceful and amicable solution to this decades-old conflict.
Unfortunately, after 30 years of the Oslo Accords, the ideal settlement is blurred by the continuous attacks and grabbing of land of the Palestinians, as well as their being ousted from their homeland.
Therefore, it is timely to posit that Malaysia remains steadfast in voicing its support for the Palestinians' inalienable right to self-determination, consistent with Malaysia's principled position that the Palestinian people deserve to live in a state of peace within its own internationally recognised borders, based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The writer is Malaysian foreign minister