Asean calls for ‘immediate ceasefire’ as Malaysia warns time running out for Gaza

Israel launched its offensive in response to the Hamas-led raid on its territory on October 7, which killed about 1,160 people and took scores hostage into Gaza.

Speaking at a separate extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamad Alamin on Tuesday said time was running out for desperate Gazans as reports mount of starvation.

“Time is against us, and Malaysia urges for international cooperation for the unconditional, unimpeded humanitarian corridor and access for aid to reach Gaza,” Alamin said.

Calling Israel’s action against Palestinians as “wanton atrocities”, Alamin said the global effort to gather humanitarian assistance to Gaza was meaningless because of “bureaucracy and unnecessary obstacles” preventing the aid from reaching those who needed it.

Aid groups have said it has become nearly impossible to deliver supplies within most of Gaza because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities, and the breakdown of public order.

Alamin said Malaysia had increased its efforts in “seeking justice” for Palestinians through diplomatic and legal campaigns at various international platforms, in line with the decision agreed at the last OIC Extraordinary Summit.

In the previous summit last November in Riyadh, OIC leaders condemned Israel’s “barbaric” destruction of hospitals in the Gaza Strip, its efforts to prevent the delivery of medicine, food and fuel to Palestinians, and moves to cut off electricity, water and basic services, including communication and internet services.

The Malaysian government, however, had to drop three NGO leaders from their aid mission in February, after their names emerged in the US