Tok Mat: Malaysia backs mechanism to document and expose Israeli violations at Jerusalem holy sites

Foreign Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, expressed full support for the creation of a structured system to document and expose Israeli misconduct at Jerusalem's holy sites. During a meeting at the United Nations headquarters, he emphasized that Israel should be held accountable for its actions, and these egregious violations should not be normalized or ignored.

Mohamad reaffirmed Malaysia's stance that Jerusalem remains central to the Ummah's collective efforts and highlighted that East Jerusalem is an essential part of the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) and the future Palestinian capital, as confirmed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its July 19, 2024 advisory opinion.

He stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over East Jerusalem and any attempts to change its Islamic, Christian, and Arab identity, or its legal and demographic character, are unlawful and must be rejected. The Malaysian Foreign Minister condemned the increasing violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, such as settler incursions, Israeli officials restricting access, and attempts to alter the historic and legal status quo.

He stressed that these provocations could ignite a broader religious conflict with severe consequences for regional and international peace and security. Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to the Hashemite Custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as its support for all efforts to safeguard the Palestinian people's rights, resilience, and presence in their city.

Mohamad emphasized that protecting Jerusalem requires more than mere statements of concern; it demands sustained coordination, collective resolve, and decisive action. He called for collective action to combat Israel's crimes against Palestinians and urged all member states to suspend economic relations with Israel and impose sanctions on Israeli leaders who incite hatred and provoke violence.

Malaysia reiterated its commitment to defending Jerusalem and supporting the Palestinian cause, reaffirming solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital.