MALAYSIA remains firm and steadfast in its stand that the Palestinians must be granted absolute freedom from Israel’s illegal occupation.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when debating the Israel-Palestine conflict in Dewan Rakyat today said that the Madani government’s stance on the conflict was clear, and that the government’s foreign policy would continue to prioritise the struggle to liberate the Palestine land and its people.

He added that Malaysia’s resolute position towards the issue remained consistent and had been unequivocally conveyed in various platforms, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the United Nations (UN).

“Malaysia’s strong and unwavering support for the Palestinian cause is evident in the frequent and forceful statements issued.

“This includes urging the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to continue pressuring Israel to end its apartheid policy and inhumane actions against the Palestinian people.

“The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim in his maiden address at the United Nations General Assembly last month had also firmly reiterated Malaysia’s stance on the Palestinian issue.

“With this, we condemn and object to all forms of provocation and violence by the Israel regime (to Palestine),” he said in Dewan Rakyat, today.

In addition, he said that Malaysia, as a nation that upholds humane and compassionate values, would not tolerate any action or movement that resulted in the death of innocent civilians.

Following this, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia was also open to all concrete efforts for lasting solutions to the conflict, adding that it must be based on international law provisions and UNSC’s resolutions.

This, he said, must also include the legitimacy of the Palestinian people to establish a state that is free from Israel’s continuous expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Comparing the Ukraine-Russia war with the ongoing situation, Ahmad Zahid also took a jab at the world community, especially the Western powers, who continued to remain indifferent and turn a blind eye to the acts of brutality committed by Israel.

He added that the double standard raised questions about the fairness of international law enforcement and different approaches used in the situation.

“The Western powers quickly provided support in the Ukraine crisis. However, they disregarded Palestine completely.

“This happens despite recent events in Palestine that have been catastrophic, leading to significant loss of life on both sides, with thousands injured and extensive property damage.”

Following this, he said the international community must intensify pressure on all parties to take immediate action to end hostilities for regional peace and stability.

“The Palestinian people must be granted absolute freedom from Israel’s illegal occupation, their seized land must be returned, and they have the right to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“Malaysia firmly believes that every conflict can be resolved through negotiation and with the permission of Allah, Palestine will be freed from the grasp of the Zionist regime and will regain their rights that have been fought for all this time.

“May the ongoing conflict be resolved, and the world must collectively play its role and responsibility, regardless of any particular interests.”

On Oct 7, Israel launched air strikes and other military operations targeting Gaza that Palestinian authorities say killed more than 230 people.

This was after Hamas military wing, Al Qassam Brigades, carried out a complex attack targeting Israeli settlements near Gaza where its army faced over 5,000 rockets, leaving the Israeli army off-guard.

They were then joined by fighters from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian factions from Gaza who infiltrated the border areas and clashed with the Israeli Occupation Army.

The attack, codenamed by Hamas “Al Aqsa Flood”, bore fruit when they took control of the Israeli settlements over the border.