Malaysia and ASEAN Must Respond with Moral Clarity and Diplomatic Resolve
By Dr Mohd Safar Hasim, Malaysian Press Institute (MPI)
On Sept 16, 2025, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry released a landmark report concluding that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. This is not a political accusation—it is a legal determination grounded in international law, evidence, and precedent.
The report marks a turning point in global diplomacy and demands urgent, principled action from the international community, including Malaysia and ASEAN.
With over 65,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023—half of them women and children—and thousands more displaced, starved, or buried under rubble, the scale of devastation is staggering.
The Commission found that Israeli authorities committed four of the five genocidal acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention: killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about destruction, and imposing measures intended to prevent births.
Commission Chair Navi Pillay stated: “It is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention.”
The report attributes responsibility to Israeli officials at the highest levels, citing explicit statements denigrating Palestinians and a sustained campaign of destruction.
Abbas Echoes UN Findings, Not Personal Accusation
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking at the UN General Assembly on Sept 25, 2025, echoed the Commission’s findings. “What Israel is carrying out is not merely an aggression. It is a war crime and a crime against humanity… one of the most horrific chapters of humanitarian tragedy in the 20th and 21st centuries,” he said.
Crucially, Abbas was not issuing a personal accusation—he was referencing the UN’s formal conclusion. His remarks were grounded in the Commission’s evidence, not political rhetoric.
Abbas also condemned the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attack, but stressed that Gaza’s devastation was not a reaction—it was the result of a long-planned campaign of annihilation.
His speech underscored the moral and legal gravity of the situation, aligning Palestine’s diplomatic stance with international law.
France Recognises Palestinian Statehood
In a bold diplomatic move, France formally recognised the State of Palestine on Sept 22, 2025 during a high-level summit co-hosted with Saudi Arabia at the United Nations. President Emmanuel Macron declared: “The time has come to stop the war, the massacres, and the fleeing people. The time for peace has come.”
France’s recognition is part of a growing Western consensus that a two-state solution is the only viable path to peace. Canada, Australia, Portugal, and the United Kingdom have echoed this stance, arguing that empowering legitimate Palestinian institutions is essential to isolating Hamas and restoring diplomacy.
This shift challenges the long-standing narrative that peace can be achieved through military dominance. Instead, it affirms that justice, sovereignty, and mutual recognition must form the foundation of any lasting resolution.
Malaysia’s Blistering Rebuke at the UN
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Hassan, delivered one of the most forceful condemnations of Israel’s actions during his address to the UN General Assembly on Sept 27, 2025.
His speech was a blistering indictment—not only of Israel’s conduct but of the UN’s failure to uphold its own Charter.
“Israel can no longer hide behind its pretence of victimhood,” Hassan declared. “Its actions in Gaza amount to genocide, and the world must respond with concrete measures to hold it accountable.”
He went further, accusing the UN of enabling a rogue state: “The UN has failed to end the occupation of Palestine. It has failed to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. It has failed to stop the genocide. If we cannot resolve this, the citizens of the world will lose faith in us and in the international order.”
Hassan called for long-term support for a sovereign Palestinian state and urged member states to challenge the use of the Security Council veto, which he said had repeatedly blocked the will of the General Assembly. His speech was not merely diplomatic—it was a moral reckoning.
Why Trust is Key
Trust is the cornerstone of any peace process. Yet Israel’s conduct in Gaza has systematically eroded that foundation. The deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and political rhetoric advocating annexation of Palestinian territories all point to a state acting with impunity, not with the intent to negotiate.
Israeli ministers have openly called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority and the annexation of the West Bank—moves that would render any two-state solution impossible.
Communications blackouts, mass displacement, and the bombing of UN shelters further underscore a pattern of behaviour that defies international norms. In such a climate, trust is not merely absent—it is actively undermined.
ASEAN’s Role: From Rhetoric to Action
Malaysia has long championed Palestinian rights, but the genocide finding demands a regional response. ASEAN must move beyond statements and engage strategically. Here are four avenues for action:
a. Convene a Regional Humanitarian Summit
Malaysia could initiate an ASEAN summit to coordinate aid, refugee support, and medical relief for Gaza. This would amplify Southeast Asia’s voice and demonstrate moral leadership.
b. Mobilise Legal and Civic Institutions
Malaysian legal scholars, civil society organisations, and media institutions—such as the Malaysian Press Institute—can support international legal action and public education. Civic diplomacy rooted in historical truth is Malaysia’s strength.
c. Leverage ASEAN’s Dialogue Platforms
ASEAN’s mechanisms, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), can raise Gaza as a regional security concern. The genocide finding provides a legal basis for engagement.
d. Champion Youth and Digital Diplomacy
Malaysia’s youth, especially on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, have emerged as powerful voices for justice. This energy should be harnessed to build a digital civic movement linking Southeast Asian solidarity with global humanitarian discourse.
Conclusion: A Moral Imperative
The genocide unfolding in Gaza is not a distant tragedy—it is a test of our shared humanity. For Malaysia and ASEAN, the path forward is not easy, but it is clear. We must reject impunity, uphold international law, and stand with those whose lives are being extinguished not by accident, but by design.
Trust in Israel as a peace partner cannot be restored through words alone. It must be earned through accountability, justice, and a genuine commitment to coexistence. Until then, Malaysia and ASEAN must lead — not from behind, but from principle.