The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) strongly supports Malaysia’s participation in the Hague Group, alongside Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa.
This collective effort underscores the urgent need for accountability and the enforcement of international law to address the continued impunity enjoyed by Israel for its acts of genocide and grave violations of international human rights law against the Palestinian people.
As aptly stated by the UN special rapporteur, Francesca Albanese: “Israel’s genocidal campaign moved to the West Bank during the ceasefire in Gaza and amidst the silence of the international community. We cannot afford to wait until the West Bank is turned into rubble like Gaza before intervening.”
The time for decisive action is now.
In another statement by Albanese: “It’s necessary to sanction Israel. It’s necessary to cut ties with Israel. We cannot rest until those mainly responsible for heinous crimes are behind bars.”
Malaysia’s leadership position (together with South Africa) in The Hague Group is a crucial step toward ensuring that international mechanisms are fully mobilised to hold Israel accountable for its longstanding and systematic violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws.
Suhakam repeats its call that for Malaysia to play a truly sincere and meaningful role in upholding justice, we must take the next logical step by acceding to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
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Malaysia cannot, on one hand, call for the ICC’s jurisdiction to be enforced against Israel, yet at the same time not be willing to be a party to the Rome Statute. Full commitment to the Rome Statute would bolster Malaysia’s credibility and reinforce its moral standing in the international arena.
In this regard, Suhakam recalls that in 2019, Malaysia almost became a party to the Rome Statute when we deposited to the UN secretary general the instrument of accession to the Rome Statute of the ICC on 4 March 2019 – but unfortunately had to withdraw due to opposition from some quarters.
The widespread annihilation and oppression of the Palestinian people is a dire humanitarian crisis that demands unified global condemnation. The call for accountability extends beyond political affiliations or faith; it is about upholding fundamental human rights and the dignity of oppressed peoples everywhere.
As an independent national human rights institution, Suhakam stands firmly behind Malaysia’s official policy on Palestine and urges all Asean nations to follow Malaysia’s lead in joining the Hague Group.
Suhakam urges the UN General Assembly to take decisive action against Israel, including revoking its UN membership under Article 6 of the UN charter due to its continual breaches of international law, including violations of the UN charter and repeated defiance of UN resolutions.
Article 6 of the UN charter states that a member state can be expelled if it has persistently violated the principles of the UN charter, requiring a recommendation from the UN Security Council (with at least nine votes, including the concurrence of all five permanent members) and a subsequent decision by the General Assembly.
The UN cannot maintain credibility if it allows a member state to act with impunity while systematically oppressing an entire population.
In addition to diplomatic pressure, practical measures such as economic sanctions and boycotts must be considered to ensure that Israel faces tangible consequences for its actions.
The international community must not continue to enable the normalisation of Israel’s inhumane treatment of the Palestinian people. Sanctions have been applied to other states for human rights abuses – Israel should be no exception.
Suhakam calls on all nations committed to justice and the rule of law to take all possible actions to end Israel’s occupation of the state of Palestine and to hold perpetrators accountable for the continued subjugation and persecution of Palestinians.
We earnestly call on Asean nations, in light of Malaysia’s upcoming Asean chairmanship in 2025, to demonstrate a united regional stance in upholding international law and human rights.
Only through such consistent and principled actions can we hope to dismantle the entrenched system of impunity that has allowed Israel’s oppressive policies to persist for decades. – Suhakam
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
