KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has expressed deep concern over the veto at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday (Sept 18), which blocked a resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire as well as the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza.
In a statement on Friday (Sept 19), Wisma Putra said the United Nations Commission of Inquiry has clearly established that acts of genocide are being committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
"The exercise of the veto would only embolden the Israeli Zionist regime to continue its crimes of genocide and destruction of Gaza.
"This is evident in the latest ground assault, which has led to more killings, further depriving famine-stricken Palestinians and forcibly displacing over 450,000 people.
"This criminal campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing, in blatant disregard for international law, international humanitarian law, and various UN resolutions, constitutes yet another chapter in Israel's systematic policy of collective punishment against an already besieged population," the statement read.
The Foreign Ministry stated that Malaysia will continue to work with the international community in pursuit of peace and justice for the Palestinian people including through the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its Capital, and its swift and unconditional admission as a full member of the United Nations.
On Thursday, the United States once again vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Media reports stated that all 14 other Council members backed the draft, which also urged Israel to lift restrictions on relief deliveries to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the enclave, but it was blocked by Washington's negative vote. - Bernama
