Kuala lumpur: France and Egypt, two key players in the New York Declaration advocating a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, have extended an invitation to Malaysia to participate as a co-convenor in the reconstruction of Gaza. This announcement was made by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who shared that he had received this invitation through phone calls from his counterparts in France and Egypt.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad Hasan expressed his intention to visit Cairo to facilitate Malaysia's involvement in the rebuilding efforts in Gaza. While addressing the Dewan Rakyat during the debate on the 2026 Supply (Budget) Bill for the Foreign Ministry, he emphasized Malaysia's readiness to contribute towards restoring the situation in Gaza, albeit acknowledging the limitations.

The suggestion to allocate a special fund for Gaza's reconstruction within the national budget was put forth by Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh from the PH-Ledang constituency. In response, Mohamad Hasan highlighted the upcoming conference on Gaza's reconstruction, spearheaded by France and Egypt, which is scheduled to take place in Cairo later this month.

In a broader context, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) recently passed a resolution on September 12 supporting the New York Declaration. This resolution, titled 'Support for the New York Declaration on a Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution', garnered significant support with 142 votes in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions.

Furthermore, Mohamad Hasan affirmed Malaysia's readiness to contribute military personnel to a peacekeeping mission in Gaza, contingent on receiving a mandate and invitation from the United Nations. He stressed Malaysia's consistent participation in peacekeeping missions when mandated by the UN, underscoring the country's commitment to international peace efforts.