New york: Malaysia has strongly urged the United Nations (UN) to impose sanctions on Israel, emphasizing that the ongoing aggression by the Zionist regime in the Middle East must be curtailed. Delivering the country's National Statement at the General Debate of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 2025, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan highlighted that Israel's recent assault on Doha, Qatar, was not just an attack on Hamas representatives but a violation of state sovereignty and an affront to mediation efforts.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad stressed that Israel's actions threaten regional stability and could have global repercussions. He underscored that the atrocities beginning in Palestine will not end there, affecting the Middle East and resonating worldwide. Mohamad pointed out that advocating for a two-state solution is insufficient and reiterated Malaysia's support for the Palestinian people, including backing the New York Declaration.

Mohamad urged for decisive action against the occupying force and preparation for long-term support to establish a self-governing Palestinian state. He warned that failure to resolve this issue would lead to a loss of faith in the UN and the international order, noting the UN's 80-year history and 77 years of Palestinian ethnic cleansing.

Additionally, Mohamad called for urgent UN reforms to address global challenges effectively, particularly regarding Palestine. He proposed three critical reforms for the UN's survival, including limiting or abolishing the veto. He argued that the General Assembly should regain authority to serve as the world's conscience and voice. He also advocated for redesigning global financing mechanisms to ensure fairness for the Global South, asserting that reform is imperative.

Mohamad urged the UN to hold Permanent Members of the Security Council accountable through Resolution 76/272: the Veto Initiative, emphasizing strong resistance to the Security Council's failures to uphold the General Assembly's will. He championed the pursuit of results through Resolution 377A: Uniting for Peace, calling for challenges to the veto and freeing the Security Council from its paralysis.

Finally, Mohamad emphasized that the United Nations must remain a relevant and effective international organization, serving as a global guardian of peace. Since October 7, 2023, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 65,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and has devastated the enclave, leading to famine.