Malaysia condemns Israeli attack on Rafah

 

Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the Israeli attack on Rafah early today killed more than 100 civilians, including women and children, with hundreds more injured. (AP pic)

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has condemned in the strongest terms the large-scale offensive in Rafah where millions of displaced civilians are seeking refuge.

The foreign affairs ministry (Wisma Putra) stated the inhumane assault will worsen the current humanitarian catastrophe, exacerbate tension in the region and further derail efforts towards an immediate cessation of hostilities and a permanent ceasefire.

“Malaysia demands Israel to immediately desist and abide by its obligations under international law,” said the statement today.

Wisma Putra said the military operation clearly indicated the key goal of the Zionist regime to annihilate Palestinians from their own land.

It also clearly showed the regime’s blatant disregard of fundamental principles of international law and this was a clear contempt of the rulings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Jan 26 on the six provisional measures.

“The international community cannot let this belligerent act by one of its members to continue without impunity,” Wisma Putra stated.

Wisma Putra said Malaysia echoed the calls by the UN secretary-general for an immediate halt to the plan and urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to take swift and decisive action to stop the massacre being perpetrated by the regime.

“This includes compelling responsible members of the international community to suspend support to the regime,” it added.

Wisma Putra said Malaysia’s support and solidarity with the Palestinian people remained firm, including towards their right to self-determination, the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, and to be accepted as a full member of the UN.

Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the Israeli attack on Rafah early today killed more than 100 civilians, including women and children, with hundreds more injured.

About 1.4 million Palestinians are now in Rafah after the Israeli military forced a mass displacement of residents from the north to the south of Gaza. - FMT