M'sia proposes removing Israel from UN if there are legal violations - PM

PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has revealed Malaysia’s suggestion to remove Israel from the United Nations in a draft resolution for the UN General Assembly.

Addressing the Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar informed the house that this proposal should be pursued if Israel continues to violate laws, rules, and decisions in matters involving Palestine.

This came after Israel passed legislation banning the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in the country last week.

“On Oct 1, Malaysia joined the core group in preparing a draft UN general assembly resolution, seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s obligation to allow UN operations and presence in the occupied Palestinian territory,” Anwar said.

The prime minister explained that this would extend to UN agencies, international organisations, and third countries operating there with the consent of the Palestinian government to benefit the Palestinian people.

He added that the draft resolution is in its negotiation process and is expected to be tabled at the UN General Assembly for approval soon.

Once passed, this resolution would serve as a legal basis for UNRWA to continue delivering essential services, including education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid, which support over six million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

UNRWA lifeline for Palestinians

Reflecting on UNRWA’s role, Anwar described the agency as a vital lifeline for Palestine over the last 75 years.

“Malaysia’s ongoing support for UNRWA is critical, and this commitment has been recognised by UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini, who expressed his appreciation to the foreign minister (Mohamad Hasan) at the previous UN session and encouraged Malaysia to enhance its collaboration,” he noted.

Anwar highlighted that a year had passed since Israel's actions in Gaza began, and as of Nov 1, the conflict has led to 43,204 Palestinian deaths, including 16,500 children.

“Over 101,641 Palestinians have been injured, with 11,000 still missing. On average, 118 Palestinians have been killed and 277 injured daily since October 2023.

“The situation in Gaza remains critical, with violence continuing unchecked, supported directly and indirectly by Israel's allies,” he added.

Funds for UNRWA

Following Anwar’s briefing, Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik) held a press conference to reiterate his earlier points on UNRWA’s funding.

“The government must make it known globally that we have allocated significant support for UNRWA, including contributions from other Islamic countries.

“Therefore, at the upcoming special Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit, the prime minister should advocate for establishing a substantial fund to help UNRWA address operational challenges on the ground,” he said.

Tarmizi also expressed hope that Malaysia would maintain a firm and uncompromising stance on Israel, adding that humanitarian aid must urgently reach Gaza.

Separately, Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh praised Anwar’s statements, noting that the proposed action was necessary to check Israel’s actions.

“I believe there is no longer any reason for us to hesitate on this matter; we should expel Israel from the UN. By doing so, Israel would lose any claim of authority over future actions,” he concluded.

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