Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called on the international community to take legal action against Israel to stop its military aggression in Gaza, the West Bank, southern Lebanon and Syria.
He said pressure on Israel must go beyond proposed resolutions and translate into concrete measures to ensure the country respects and complies with previously agreed ceasefire arrangements.
“Although there has been a change in leadership in Israel following the recent elections, we believe its policies, including those concerning the ceasefire, may not change.
“International involvement is crucial to increasing pressure on Israel, including through legal action and other measures, particularly among countries neighbouring Israel,” he said on Saturday.
Ahmad Zahid was speaking to Malaysian media after a roundtable discussion with the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) in Turkiye.
The eight-member SETA delegation was led by its General Coordinator Prof Nebi Mis, Foreign Policy Research Director Prof Murat Yesiltas and Publications Director Ebrar Uzumcu.
During the discussion, Ahmad Zahid also touched on UMNO’s plans to establish research cooperation with SETA through the proposed Abdullah Badawi Research Institute (ABRI).
He said the partnership would strengthen knowledge-sharing between Malaysia and Turkiye, potentially including exchanges of research materials produced by both institutions.
SETA also has an existing collaboration with Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS).
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the exchange of expertise and research findings was expected to benefit both countries.
He added that the collaboration could help improve their understanding of geopolitical and socio-economic developments at regional and global levels.
The roundtable discussion was among the activities during Ahmad Zahid’s four-day visit to Turkiye from November 5 to 8.
The visit coincides with the TRT World Forum 2026, which is being held over two days at the Istanbul Congress Centre.
