PETALING JAYA: The root causes of the current violence in the Gaza Strip must be acknowledged, says the Malaysian Government.
"The Palestinians have been subjected to the prolonged illegal occupation, blockade and suffering, the desecration of Al-Aqsa as well as the politics of dispossession at the hands of Israel as the occupier," said the Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement on Sunday (Oct 8).
"At this critical time, further loss of life, suffering and destruction should stop and parties must exercise utmost restraint and de-escalate," it added.
It said that Malaysia is concerned about the latest violence in the Middle East and added that it urges the United Nations Security Council to live up to its Charter-mandated responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
"The inconsistency to act on the Israeli regime calls into question the uniform enforcement of international principles and highlights the need for a more consistent stance in addressing an apartheid administration," said the ministry.
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It said that Palestinians have a legal right to live in a state of peace within its own internationally-recognised pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The ministry added that Palestinians have an inalienable right to return to their homes and property from which they have been displaced.
"There should be no disproportionate treatment and flagrant hypocrisy in dealing with any regime that practices apartheid and blatantly violates human rights and international law," it added.
"The Council should urgently convene an Emergency Session to demand all parties stop the violence as well as respect and protect the lives of innocent civilians," said the ministry.
