IPOH: The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, marked by a significant erosion of human dignity, demands urgent and thorough intervention from leading global powers.
Former South African foreign minister Dr Naledi Pandor said people should be horrified by what is happening to the people of Palestine, who have been occupied and dominated by Israel for so many decades.
"We do not use our economic power to show our disdain for what is happening to the people of Palestine. Therefore, what is vital is that the analysis must be followed by action.
"One of the powers we have is our consumer power. We need to use that effectively. We need to consider boycotts and sanctions because mere protest is not enough," she said.
Pandor said this during a Distinguished Royal Session at the 7th World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilisation, themed "Together We Stand: Muslims and Global Humanity" held here.
She was one of the speakers during the session, which was moderated by Oxford University Fellow Datuk Dr Afifi Al-Akiti. Other speakers included former Indonesian vice-president Dr Jusuf Kalla, former Singaporean foreign minister George Yeo, and Middle East Centre, London School of Economics founding director Professor Fawaz A. Gerges.
Pandor said only when Israel's economy is impacted, will the primary supporters of Israel begin to take notice.
"I think the time has come for us to emerge and play a role in making the world different. When you have great principles and values, they should drive our daily lives.
"You can't keep them as a secret resource. You must share them with the world and make them the driver of your actions in the interest of all humanity.
"For the people of Gaza, let us not be visible only sometimes. Let us be visible all the time. The struggle of Gaza is not over when we protest; it is over when the people of Palestine enjoy freedom, justice and self-determination. Until that happens, let us be active in society," she said.
Jusuf said there can be no humanity without peace, and that 60 per cent of conflicts in the last 10 years have occurred in Islamic countries.
"It starts in Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and now in Palestine and Sudan.
"I think there are reasons for so many conflicts in Muslim countries. First is inequality, second is ideology, and third is poverty," he said, adding that addressing these issues properly could end the suffering of people in Gaza and other Muslim countries.
Fawaz, meanwhile, strongly supported and commended South Africa for its resolute effort to stop the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
"South Africa is not about supporting Hamas or being anti-Israel. It is about supporting international humanitarian law. It is about the right to protection; it is about humanity," he said.