I AM deeply disappointed upon reading an article that purports to represent the perspective of a certain segment of Malaysians, claiming that "they generally do not have a very negative view of Israel or a very positive view of Palestine, as Muslims do."
The author further asserts that "we merely perceive Israel and Palestine as two nations at war, much like we view the conflict between Ukraine and Russia."
Such statements reveal a lack of understanding of the nuanced historical context and complex geopolitical dynamics underpinning the Gaza-Israel conflict.
Unlike the Ukraine-Russia war, which is largely a conventional interstate conflict, the Gaza-Israel situation is rooted in colonial legacies, systemic occupation, and gross power asymmetries, making any simplistic comparison highly reductive and misleading.
The crisis did not originate on Oct 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, rather its roots extend far deeper into history, predating this event since 76 years ago when UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 181 (II) in 1947 proposed the partition of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states, a decision that remains central to the historical and political discourse surrounding the conflict.
Israel then was eventually founded on May 14, 1948. The partition plan was perceived as the culmination of colonial interference, particularly the 1917 Balfour Declaration and British support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland.
Palestinians saw it as an imposition by foreign powers that disregarded their right to self-determination.
The partition of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states, proposed under the UNGA in 1947, remains highly contentious and has been consistently rejected by Palestinian Arabs, who continue to view Israel as a colonial entity imposed upon their homeland.
For this reason, Malaysia regards Hamas as a resistance movement striving for the liberation of Palestine, distinguishing its perspective from that of several Western nations that classify Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
This stance reflects Malaysia's strong support for the Palestinian cause and its commitment to addressing the long-standing occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people.
Hence, it is a grave misconception to claim that the crisis would not have unfolded if Hamas had not launched the attack, disregarding the fact that Palestinians have endured systemic oppression and suffering for the past 76 years.
Recently, the world observed the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, commemorated annually on Nov 29. Established by UNGA through Resolution 32/40 B in 1977, this day underscores the ongoing plight and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
In 2005, through Resolution 60/37, the General Assembly further enhanced the scope of activities to mark this day.
These include directives to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights to collaborate with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN in organizing annual exhibitions or cultural events.
Such initiatives aim to raise awareness of the rights and struggles of the Palestinian people. The term "inalienable" signifies rights that are inherent, irrevocable, and non-transferable, regardless of external pressures or authorities.
Within the Palestinian context, these rights encompass:
1. The right to self-determination.
2. The right of return to their homeland.
3. The right to freedom and sovereignty in their own land.
For the past 76 years, Israel have denied all the rights mentioned granted by the United Nations through Resolution 60/37 to the Palestinian people. In fact, Israel has violated numerous United Nations resolutions thereafter.
While it is difficult to pinpoint an exact number of UN resolutions Israel has violated, the pattern of non-compliance is evident across multiple UN bodies and over several decades.
The ongoing nature of these violations continues to be a significant point of contention in international relations and efforts toward achieving peace in the region.
Had it not been for the frequent use of veto power, particularly by certain permanent members of the UN Security Council, many more resolutions would have been passed against Israel.
After over a year of the Israel-Gaza crisis, Israel has committed not only genocide but a host of crimes that defy humanity, spanning nearly every conceivable atrocity.
Israel's actions systematically target Palestinian lives, erasing their culture, devastating their environment, and dismantling their aspirations for statehood.
As aptly articulated by one of the most distinguished historians of the Palestinian struggle, Professor Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said Professor Emeritus of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, in a recent statement on Al Jazeera: "This genocide is worse than any phase in Palestinian history."
Supporting the Palestinian people is no longer a matter of choosing sides between Muslims and non-Muslims, or between the weak and the strong. It has transcended such divisions to become a question of morality — standing between right and wrong, justice and injustice, and oppressors and victims.
When the entire world has borne witness to the clear atrocities committed by Israel, with widespread demonstrations of anger erupting in major cities across Europe, the United States, and beyond — East and West uniting in protests against the genocide — it is truly perplexing that there remains " a segment " of people in Malaysia and elsewhere who fail to discern this as a profoundly moral issue.
* The writer is Principal Fellow / Director, Centre for Syariah, Law and Politics,
Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM). He can be reached at roskiman@ikim.gov.my