Malaysia slams silent UN

PETALING JAYA: The unbecoming conduct of the United Nations Security Council in not acting against Israeli’s escalated aggression against the Palestinians is “disappointing”, says Malaysia.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the UN General Assembly must immediately call a Special Session to address the deafening silence from the Security Council over the Israeli hostilities.

“Malaysia is disappointed by the UN Security Council’s inability to come up with a unified position to halt Israel’s violence against Palestinians. This is the third session of the UN Security Council this week and yet, not a single statement has been released on the current situation in Palestine.

“In the absence of unified action from the council, Malaysia, in line with our joint call with Brunei and Indonesia, urges the General Assembly to convene a Special Session to immediately end the hostilities.

“The UN must force Israel to comply with all obligations by international law as well as the UN Charter, ” Hishammuddin said, adding that Malaysia would never recognise any blatant seizure of Palestinian land by Israel for illegal settlements.

He said during the UN Security Council’s open video teleconference debate on the situation in the Middle East on Sunday, Malaysia had urged the council to exercise its primary responsibility of maintaining peace and security in the region.

The UN Security Council, he added, must also make full use of available tools to avoid an escalation of violence and prevent further loss of life in Palestine.

Malaysia, said Hishammuddin, had highlighted three key points during the debate: the UN Security Council must act immediately and fulfil its duties under the UN Charter, speak in one voice and act swiftly and decisively to respond to Israeli aggression, and revisit recommendations under the Secretary-General’s report in 2018 on the deployment of UN-mandated armed forces or unarmed observers to improve the protection of Palestinians.

“Once again, Malaysia condemns in the strongest terms the incursion, indiscriminate and escalating attacks by the Israeli Occupation Forces and Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and worshippers in Al-Aqsa Mosque.

“Malaysia also condemns in the strongest terms all forced evictions of Palestinians from their homes, including those in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem, ” said Hishammuddin.

It was reported that the Israeli Zionist regime’s incursions and attacks on the Palestinians this time had started with its storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on May 7 and airstrikes in the Gaza Strip since last Monday.

Over 100 Palestinians have been reported killed and hundreds more injured so far.