PM Anwar To Deliver Malaysia's Mandate To top Israel's War Crimes At Arab-Islamic Summit
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has received an invitation from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia to participate in the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit on Nov 11, aimed at discussing the ongoing war crimes and atrocities committed by Israel against Palestine.
Anwar said that his participation at the summit, set to take place in Riyadh, is to bring the mandate of the Malaysian Parliament, which is to advocate for firm action to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression and atrocities against the Palestinians.
He said Malaysia would also raise issues regarding the invasion and destruction of places of worship in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and open attacks on regions in Lebanon and Iran, including the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar.
“Additionally, this summit will address the current challenges faced by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), following the Israeli regime's decision to ban the operations of the humanitarian organisation on Oct 28,” he said during the briefing session on the Palestinian issue at the Dewan Rakyat (Malaysian Parliament) Monday.
Anwar said that at the summit, Malaysia will also propose that full support be given to UNRWA in carrying out its mandate to provide social services and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
He said that Malaysia intends to use the summit to garner support from Arab and Islamic countries for this initiative and to prevent the implementation of the Israeli Parliament’s decision on Oct 28 to ban the UNRWA and worsen the humanitarian situation in northern Gaza, where there has been starvation due to a prolonged lack of essential aid.
“One approach that can be taken is for the Arab-Islamic Summit to support the mediation efforts for a ceasefire by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, as these three countries have developed a framework for an agreement that must be accepted by all parties involved since May.
“Our concern is that Israel's brutal actions were made possible by the support of countries continuously supplying weapons to them, including the United States and several European countries,” he said.
Anwar also emphasised the importance of Malaysia and the international community condemning Israel’s genocidal crimes in Palestine and exerting pressure for an immediate ceasefire to allow the delivery of medicine, food, and other humanitarian necessities to the Palestinian people, in addition to mobilising the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid regarding Israel.
Meanwhile, in replying to questions from Member of Parliaments (MP) regarding support for the UNRWA, Anwar said Malaysia will continue to back the agency, including in terms of cash assistance.
“Humanitarian support in terms of over RM100 million (US$1=RM4.37) cash assistance had been announced previously or efforts by the Defence Minister ( Mohamed Khaled Nordin) and Foreign Minister ( Mohamad Hasan)… we have brought patients and children in critical conditions, especially from Gaza, for treatment at military hospitals and this will be continued.
“Specifically for UNRWA, so far, the funds that have been allocated and handed over to the UNRWA is RM25 million and we are discussing under the Foreign Ministry and UNRWA to look at their urgent needs,” he said.
On its continued humanitarian missions for the people of Palestine, the prime minister said Malaysia would have to rely on the governments of Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to ensure the aid can be delivered to the people in the area.
“I will discuss with the President of Egypt, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Nov 10 (Sunday) to convey our gratitude because Egypt provided a special route for Malaysia’s humanitarian aid efforts to Rafah but which is now blocked by Israel,” he said.
He also gave an assurance that Malaysia, as a free and independent country, sovereign and has principles and stance, will continue to uphold justice for the people of Palestine wherever they are.
-- BERNAMA
