KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged the international community to unite in a decisive push to suspend or even expel Israel from the United Nations (UN), citing the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and escalating violence.
Speaking at the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Anwar condemned Israel’s actions, describing them as a gross violation of basic human principles and an alarming assault on the people of Palestine. He called the ongoing violence “inhumane and genocidal” and urged the world to take immediate action.
Anwar emphasized that Israel’s repeated aggression against an entire population leaves no room for inaction, advocating for strong measures such as an arms embargo, UN suspension, or expulsion. “The world community must respond swiftly and decisively,” he stated, “as Malaysia advocated at the UN General Assembly in September, by imposing an immediate arms embargo against Israel.”
He stressed that the international community has a responsibility to respond to Israel’s continued violations of international law, noting, “This is a call not only to protect Palestinians but to uphold human dignity and law.”
Anwar underscored that Israel’s actions, including recent attacks on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), endanger essential humanitarian lifelines for Palestinians in Gaza, further straining a region in crisis. “By blocking UNRWA’s work, Israel is undermining the very basis of humanitarian response, depriving Gaza’s people of critical aid,” he explained. He also highlighted the importance of enhanced protections for UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, who have reportedly faced attacks from Israeli forces.
Warning that unchecked violence could trigger instability across the region, Anwar noted that Israel’s actions have already sparked unrest in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. He commended ongoing efforts within the Muslim world to seek sustainable peace solutions through collaborative platforms such as the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit.
Anwar emphasized that at the heart of these efforts is the plight of the Palestinian people, urging nations to accelerate rebuilding efforts in Gaza. “We must act not just as Muslims but as humans,” he said, “to create a safer, more compassionate world for future generations.”
