MEMBAKUT: Malaysia has not changed its long-standing position that Palestine has the right to exist as an independent state, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said this position reflects Malaysia’s desire to support the Palestinian people’s right to self-governance.
Mohamad said this while his ministry studies a declaration from a recent United Nations (UN) special meeting, which calls for Hamas to lay down its arms and surrender governance of Gaza.
“The recent debate was presented by two countries, Saudi Arabia and France, which discussed a two-state solution to ensure Palestine has an independent state,” Mohamad said.
“The outcome document has an appendix with other conditions that must be studied carefully,” he said, adding that Malaysia did not want to be “trapped in the political games of interested parties.”
Mohamad said the Foreign Ministry had been asked to sign the document next month.
“The ministry will bring this matter to the cabinet for a decision,” he said.
“Whether we sign the document or not, it needs to be discussed and scrutinised in greater detail.”
The foreign minister said this on the sidelines of the Membakut Umno divisional meeting.
Earlier today, Mohamad said in a statement that Malaysia welcomed the growing international consensus to condemn Israel and support the push for Palestinian statehood.
The declaration calling for Hamas to disarm and relinquish power was signed by several countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada.
The UK and France are among the latest countries preparing to formally recognise the State of Palestine.
To date, more than 145 countries have extended formal recognition to Palestine.
More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, over 150,000 have been injured, and 1.9 million people have been displaced in Gaza since the conflict started in 2023.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
