Malaysia has strongly condemned renewed calls by the Israeli regime to forcibly remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, describing such attempts as a serious violation of international law.
In a statement on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) also denounced what it described as brutal acts of violence against Palestinians by illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
“Malaysia rejects any attempt to forcibly transfer or resettle Palestinians from their homeland,” the ministry said.
Wisma Putra said killings, threats, destruction of property and the arbitrary forced displacement of Palestinians by illegal Israeli settlers were reprehensible acts that seriously violated international law and international humanitarian law.
It said such actions were also contributing to the entrenchment of the occupation, the systematic expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and the seizure of Palestinian land.
The issue of Palestinian displacement from Gaza has drawn renewed attention following proposals and statements by several Israeli leaders advocating the departure of Palestinians from the territory.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was reported to have proposed a plan for what he described as “voluntary” emigration, including a target of removing about 250,000 Palestinians from Gaza in its first year.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz was also reported to have said that a long-term solution for Gaza could not be achieved without Palestinian emigration, raising fresh concerns over the possibility of mass displacement.
However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on Wednesday that the Israeli government had no plans to forcibly expel Palestinians from Gaza. He maintained that any emigration should be voluntary and take place with the consent of countries willing to receive them.
Wisma Putra stressed that Gaza is part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and that Malaysia rejects any efforts to alter its demographic or geographical character.
“Malaysia also rejects efforts to expel Palestinians from the occupied West Bank through settlement expansion and settler violence,” it said.
Malaysia also urged the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), to take concrete action to end the violations, ensure those responsible are held accountable and protect the Palestinian people.
The ministry reiterated Malaysia’s unwavering support for the right of Palestinians to remain on their land and establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“Malaysia reaffirms its unwavering support for the right of Palestinians to remain on their land and to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Wisma Putra said.
