Malaysia's inputs included in adopted NAM declaration

Malaysia's suggestions have been included in a Declaration adopted by an emergency meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Committee on Palestine on the situation in Gaza in Tehran, Iran on Monday (Aug 4).

Malaysia, which was represented by senior officials from the Foreign Ministry, had in its statement condemned in the strongest terms Israel's military offensive in Gaza and demanded an immediate cessation of these illegal acts, as well as the lifting of the blockade on Gaza.

According to a Wisma Putra statement Thursday, Malaysia also highlighted the measures it had taken to alleviate the sufferings of the Palestinian people and proposed several initiatives to hold Israel accountable for their actions.

Malaysia at the meeting also expressed its grave concern on the wider implications of the current tragedy faced by the Palestinian people.

"Malaysia's suggestions were included in a Declaration adopted by the meeting."

The Declaration, among others, reaffirmed NAM's support for Palestine and condemned the indiscriminate and excessive use of force by Israel.

The Declaration also called for measures to hold Israel accountable, including the convening of a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the investigation of Israel's violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law through an official international, independent inquiry as mandated by the Human Rights Council.

It also included concrete measures to alleviate the humanitarian sufferings, such as to provide victims with humanitarian assistance on an urgent basis, as well as to support the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The current Chair of NAM, Iran, convened the emergency meeting at the request of Palestine, following the recent military aggression by Israel in the Gaza Strip.

The meeting was convened to demonstrate NAM's support and solidarity in light of the present crisis faced by the Palestinian people, as well as to discuss initiatives to promote a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Question of Palestine.

The meeting was opened by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and attended by representatives from the members of the NAM Committee on Palestine.

The Committee also heard a briefing by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine Dr Riyad Al-Maliki on the current situation in Gaza where he emphasized, among others, more than 1,800 Palestinian lives had been lost.s

Wisma Putra said Malaysia's participation in the meeting reflected its unwavering support to the Government and people of Palestine, in their efforts to realise their inalienable rights.