KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet would discuss Malaysia's stand if it should join in the global call for Hamas to disarm and hand Gaza over to the Palestinian Authority, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister and government spokesperson also said that all geopolitical decisions of Malaysia would be decided at Cabinet meetings, and the issue on Gaza would most likely be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting to be held on Friday (Aug 1).
Fahmi said this to the media after launching the International Connectivity Conference and Expo 2025 co-organised by telecommunications provider GSATT and Madani Research Centre here on Wednesday (July 30).
He was asked if Malaysia would join more than 17 other countries in asking Hamas to disarm and give up governing Gaza as part of the United Nations' efforts for a peace truce between Palestine and Israel.
"We will discuss this in the next Cabinet meeting. Probably, we will make a decision on this after we (Cabinet) meet on Friday. This is because Wisma Putra (Foreign Ministry) would have to brief us on the geopolitical issues (before we take a stand)," said Fahmi.
On July 29, Arab countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt joined calls for Hamas to disarm and end its rule of Gaza, in a bid to end the devastating war in the Palestinian territory.
Seventeen countries, plus the European Union and Arab League, threw their weight behind a seven-page text agreed at a United Nations conference on reviving the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.
“In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State,” said the declaration.
It followed a call on Monday by the Palestinian delegation at the United Nations for both Israel and Hamas to leave Gaza, allowing the Palestinian Authority to administer the coastal territory. The text also condemned the deadly Oct 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas against Israel, something the UN General Assembly has yet to do.
France, which co-chaired the conference with Saudi Arabia, called the declaration “both historic and unprecedented.”
“For the first time, Arab countries and those in the Middle East condemn Hamas, condemn Oct 7, call for the disarmament of Hamas, call for its exclusion from Palestinian governance, and clearly express their intention to normalise relations with Israel in the future,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
The text, co-signed by France, Britain and Canada among other western nations, also called for the possible deployment of foreign forces to stabilise Gaza after the end of hostilities.
