KUALA LUMPUR: Asean has been unequivocal in its stance that international humanitarian law must be upheld in Gaza, says the Philippines' Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Enrique A. Manalo (pic).
"Asean has been very clear. Asean fully supports the humanitarian aspect and the need to respect international law in Gaza, and also in Palestine,” he told reporters on Sunday (May 25) night.
Manalo was responding to questions on Israel’s actions in Palestine, following Manila’s chairmanship of the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Meeting at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) earlier on Sunday.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has warned that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza will worsen unless aid delivery remains uninterrupted.
Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported that the Israeli blockade, which began on March 2, has pushed Gaza’s 2.4 million residents to the brink of famine.
Over the past 80 days, 58 individuals have died from malnutrition, while another 242-primarily children and the elderly-have succumbed to a lack of food and medicine, the report added.
Commenting on Sunday’s ministerial meeting, Manalo noted that the implementation of the Asean-GCC Framework of Cooperation 2024-2028 is progressing well.
The framework is a comprehensive plan to strengthen cooperation between Asean and the GCC across political, economic, and socio-cultural sectors.
"Well, I think it’s making good progress, and today we had a very good meeting to reaffirm that. I think tomorrow’s summit will further cement our growing cooperation between Asean and the GCC,” he said.
The 46th Asean Summit and its related meetings, scheduled for May 26 and 27 under Malaysia’s 2025 Chairmanship theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, are expected to address a broad range of pressing regional and international issues, particularly political and security concerns.
This year marks Malaysia’s fifth time chairing the regional bloc, having previously held the ASEAN Chairmanship in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. - Bernama
