AS we speak, barbaric acts towards Al-Aqsa Mosque and in the Occupied Palestinian Territory continue to be committed by the Israeli forces, further deteriorating the humanitarian situation in the country.
The regime’s despicable act is a “dangerous violation of international law”, which condemns these acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction. The apartheid treatment of the Palestinians by the Israeli regime pose significant threats to the shared values and aspirations for peace in the region.
The continuous intrusion of Al-Haram Al-Sharif by the Israeli forces and settlers should be denounced. As the third holiest place in Islam, Malaysia sees it as a clear effort by Israel to assert sovereignty over the Holy City and change the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa, and this is unacceptable.
It is alarming that the increased brutality shows no signs of abating. The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli Forces until July 2023 was more than double the figures recorded in the same period last year. In fact, the year 2022 has already been described as the bloodiest year since 2005.
The recent attack in Jenin and Nablus on June 19 and 21, 2023, respectively, has drastically increased the figures of martyred and injured Palestinians.
Failure of the international community to assume responsibility in demanding justice and accountability from the Israeli regime would only undermine efforts in achieving a viable and peaceful solution to the long-standing conflict. The cycle of impunity would continue and the Question of Palestine would remain.
We applaud the OIC for hosting the Open-Ended Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC Executive Committee in Jeddah to collectively condemn the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli National Security Minister.
We also commend the adoption of the OIC statement on the Israeli Occupation Government Officials Breaking into the Blessed Aqsa Mosque on July 31, 2023.
Both document calls for our intensified efforts and necessary measures to force Israel to stop all its violations and illegal actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif.
Nevertheless, the countless meetings and numerous resolutions have not tantamount to ensuring the rights of our Palestinian brethren nor has it put an end to Israel’s blatant violation.
Malaysia and its people remain steadfast in providing all the support to our Palestinian brothers and sisters.
Our participation in submitting a written statement to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian Territory since 1967 is one of our testaments to this noble cause.
I want to stress again that Malaysia’s commitment to the OIC’s agenda, especially on Al-Aqsa and Palestine, is resolute.
We remain firm in our absolute and unwavering commitment to realise the two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine.
We must do more than just condemning the Israel. We must find ways to ensure the sovereignty of Palestine and the safety of its people. Therefore, Malaysia wishes to iterate the following:
• this Committee must continuously and systematically, exert pressure on Israel and bring them to justice, for its crime against humanity; its ruthless acts of discrimination and repression; and its apartheid persecution;
• The OIC family and the rest of the international community must aggressively intercede in Israel’s atrocities;
• We must remind the international community that the reckless and unlawful actions of Israeli forces are in total violation of the Status Quo Agreement;
• We also must continuously support the work and mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA (UN-RU-WA)), in ensuring the plights of our Palestinian brothers and sisters are well taken care of.
This is the edited version of Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir’s remarks at the Meeting of the Committee of Six on Palestine on September 19 at the United Nations, New York.