PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is against any attempt to use the self-declared "Republic of Somaliland" or any other territories to forcibly transfer already-displaced Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said Malaysia fully aligns with the position taken by many countries, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in rejecting Israel’s decision to recognise the breakaway state as an independent nation.
"We express opposition to any attempts to use Somaliland or any other territory as a destination for the forceful transfer or displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
"Such a notion is totally and wholly unacceptable. It violates international laws and humanitarian principles, and will perpetuate injustice rather than contribute to peace," he told a special press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here on Tuesday (Dec 30).
Anwar said he took note of recent discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump at the latter's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
"Let us be clear, there must be no return to large-scale violence. Any resumption of that would exact an intolerable cost to civilians and erode already fragile prospects for peace.
"Israel must be held fully accountable for its actions and obligations under international law," he stressed.
On Monday (Dec 29), Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland as an independent state, sparking condemnation from many countries, including China, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia.
The breakaway state declared it was independent from Somalia in 1991.
There has been criticism over Israel’s surprise recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, as several international reports said it had proposed the resettlement of displaced Palestinians there.
Israel has not commented on the reports. At the same time, Somaliland said the decision by Israel to recognise its independence would not have anything to do with the Palestinian issue.
Despite the truce with Palestine that entered its first phase in October, Israel is reported to have repeatedly violated ceasefire agreements by attacking civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Since Oct 7, 2023, Israel has killed over 70,000 people in Gaza and injured over 171,000.
Meanwhile, Anwar said Asean would continue monitoring the latest developments in Myanmar, which just concluded its first phase of elections recently.
"We will be guided by the need to reduce violence, avoid actions that could deepen division or confer premature legitimacy, and to preserve the possibility of an inclusive and credible pathway forward," he said.
Myanmar’s main pro-military party has claimed an overwhelming victory in the first phase of the country’s junta-run elections, which concluded on Sunday (Dec 28).
The second phase of the polls will be held on Jan 11, while no date has been set for the third phase.
