Kuala lumpur: Malaysia has called on Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states to reject and refrain from supporting Israel's illegal settlement scheme in the occupied Palestinian territories. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan emphasized the necessity for OIC members to uphold the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion of July 19, 2024, by opposing Israel's ongoing occupation efforts.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad Hasan condemned Israel's US$2.3 billion settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, stating it undermines the potential for a viable Palestinian state. In his address at the Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, he highlighted the detrimental impact of the E1 settlement plan, which aims to disrupt the territorial continuity required for Palestinian statehood.
Mohamad urged OIC states to resist settler violence in the West Bank and illegal evictions in Jerusalem, as well as actions threatening the city's identity and holy sites. He also called for international intervention to halt Israel's military actions in Gaza, advocating for a permanent ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access.
The foreign minister expressed concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, citing the loss of over 70,000 civilian lives and the destruction of essential infrastructure. He described the situation as a moral crisis challenging the credibility of the international order and called for increased support to rebuild Palestinian institutions.
He reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of a sovereign Palestinian state. He condemned recent provocations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and urged OIC members to uphold the sanctity of Jerusalem's holy sites under Hashemite Custodianship.
Furthermore, Mohamad called on the United Nations Security Council to enforce international law and protect the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, following the illegal seizure of its Kalandia Training Centre. He urged the OIC to remain committed to a rules-based international order and ensure Israel's accountability for its actions.