SUHAKAM calls for priority in humanitarian assistance in Palestine

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 -- The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) today hopes humanitarian assistance would be prioritised in all emergency situations while definitive steps should be taken to protect the lives of Palestinians.

SUHAKAM in statement today said violent attacks against media houses in Palestine also must cease immediately as a respect to preserving media freedom and Suhakam is deeply concerned about the critical humanitarian and deteriorating human rights situation in Palestine.

According to the statement, United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet has called for strict respect for international law and appealed to all sides to take steps to de-escalate the increasingly alarming situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

“The Charter of the UN clearly states that the threat or use of force against other States is unlawful and according to Article 2(4) - All Members shall refrain, in their international relations, from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the UN,” the statement read. 

SUHAKAM also echoed the statement by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the international community, especially the United Nations Security Council to immediately call for the cessation of all forms of violence committed by Israel and efforts must be taken to save the lives of Palestinians.

It was reported that the Israeli Zionist regime’s incursions and attacks on the Palestinians this time started with its storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on May 7 and airstrikes in the Gaza Strip since Monday.

Meanwhile, Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) from various parties in this country said the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the regional parliamentary unions should adopt resolutions to condemn Israel’s aggression, stop the attacks and safeguard the lives and rights of innocent lives especially the Palestinians.

It was among the 10 demands issued by opposition MPs in a statement, while also asking the government to show further strong condemnation of Israel’s act of violation and suppression of the Palestinians for their right to self-determination, justice and freedom by pushing Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC),  Arab League and UN to take meaningful action to protect Palestinians.

According to the statement, the government as a strong proponent of justice and peace for the Palestinian cause must be prepared to send a peace envoy to Gaza.

They also asked Muhyiddin to urgently advise the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah) to call for a special emergency session of Parliament to move a motion to condemn Israel and raise recommendations in Dewan Rakyat.

“This must be a show of strong bipartisan support from all irrespective of parties. MPs must act to expose the atrocities by Israel by pressuring parliament and government to end all military-security cooperation and trade (military funding in the US case) with apartheid Israel and similarly other criminal regimes of oppression worldwide,” it said.

They also demanded for a ban on all goods or services of companies operating in Israel’s illegal colonial settlements and that UN investigates Israeli apartheid.

-- BERNAMA