PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has expressed its support for South Africa’s decision to initiate legal proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), addressing alleged violations against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The Malaysian Foreign Ministry, Wisma Putra, issued a statement on Tuesday, welcoming South Africa’s application under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, commonly known as the Genocide Convention.
The legal action is rooted in South Africa’s concerns over Israel’s actions in Gaza, and the application includes a request for the ICJ to indicate provisional or short-term measures, compelling Israel to cease its military campaign in the region. This move is aimed at protecting the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention and ensuring Israel’s compliance with its obligations.
Wisma Putra stated, “The legal action against Israel before ICJ is a timely and tangible step towards legal accountability for Israel’s atrocities in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) at large.” As a fellow State Party to the Genocide Convention, Malaysia called on Israel to abide by international law and put an immediate end to the reported atrocities against Palestinians.
The statement emphasized Malaysia’s continued call for a durable solution to the long-standing conflict by advocating for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State. Malaysia reiterated its support for the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital.
