KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has welcomed South Africa's latest request for the indication of additional provisional measures before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel.
The Foreign Ministry said the additional provisional measures pertain to the urgent need for the cessation of Israel's military offensive in Rafah; facilitation of unimpeded access to humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza; and submission by Israel of a report to the ICJ on all measures taken to abide by the provisional measures.
"Malaysia strongly supports and commends South Africa for its resolute effort to stop the genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.
"This is the third request for additional measures brought by the country since the initial provisional measures granted by the ICJ on Jan 26, 2024," the statement read.
South Africa is currently kicking off two days hearing, from May 16 to 17, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, home of the ICJ, imploring judges to order a ceasefire throughout Gaza.
Wisma Putra also reiterated Malaysia's stand and unwavering support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestine state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as the admission of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations (UN).
"On Feb 22, the minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan, also represented Malaysia during the public hearings on the request for ICJ's Advisory Opinion in respect of the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem at the Peace Palace, The Hague.
"Israel's offensives in Rafah, a 64-square-kilometer area crowded with over 1.4 million Palestinians seeking refuge, will result in a massive humanitarian catastrophe.
"The international community has a collective responsibility to demand that Israel cease its military operations."
On Thursday, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the operation in Rafah 'will continue as additional forces will enter' the area.
The UN Agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said on Wednesday that 600,000 people have fled Rafah since military operations intensified, amid battles and heavy Israeli bombardment in the area.
Israel's military has conducted a relentless bombardment from the air and a ground offensive inside Gaza that has killed at least 35,233 people, mostly civilians, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.