By Danial Dzulkifly
KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — Malaysia today called for an end to the violence in Palestine and Ukraine, urging East Asia Summit (EAS) participants to act decisively to uphold international law, justice and humanity.
Addressing the 15th EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories had emboldened Israel to commit atrocities with impunity.
“Eighty years of impunity have emboldened Israel to the extent of openly committing genocide, including through mass starvation, that includes babies and children. This is unacceptable. It must not be allowed to continue. It must be stopped,” he said.
Mohamad said global conflicts, whether in Palestine, Ukraine or elsewhere, must be resolved through diplomacy grounded in the principles of the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law.
He urged EAS member states to honour the spirit in which the forum was established two decades ago, as a platform to promote peace, stability and prosperity across East Asia, with Asean at its core.
“In today’s interconnected world, peace, stability and prosperity are our collective privileges. We must continuously work together to ensure they are safeguarded and progressed.”
Describing the EAS as “more relevant and vital than ever”, Mohamad said the region is now facing a perfect storm of crises, from great power rivalry and economic fragmentation to rapid technological disruption and transnational security threats.
“With a combined nominal gross domestic product of US$68 trillion (RM292 trillion), the countries in this hall today account for over half of the global economy,” he said.
Malaysia is the host of this year’s EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting as part of its role as Asean Chair for 2025.
EAS was done under the auspices of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers meeting and related meetings, scheduled from July 8–11.
