Malaysia, led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, is seeking international support for a proposal to expel Israel from the United Nations, citing ongoing violations of international law and United Nations resolutions in its conflict with Gaza. Anwar made the announcement ahead of an emergency summit with Arab nations next week, where he plans to present the measure and build a unified stance.
The recent escalation in Gaza has seen over 43,000 Palestinian casualties, predominantly women and children, following an October attack by Hamas on Israeli territory, which led to Israel’s intensified response. As a result, Prime Minister Anwar has urged for strong action, calling Israel’s actions “dispossession, terrorism, cruelty, and genocide,” underscoring Malaysia’s long-standing support for Palestinian statehood.
Malaysia’s move aligns with the country’s previous actions, including banning the Israeli shipping giant Zim and witnessing significant boycotts by Malaysians against businesses linked to Israel and its allies. Meanwhile, Anwar highlighted the importance of Muslim and Arab unity to achieve significant policy changes and advocated for a ceasefire, the provision of humanitarian aid, and the establishment of a UN Special Committee Against Apartheid focusing on Israel.
The summit will address Israel’s recent legislation restricting UNRWA, the UN’s primary agency providing aid to Palestinians. Israel’s decision to end a cooperation agreement with UNRWA, labeling it as linked to “terror,” has intensified diplomatic tensions. Anwar and Malaysian officials will present this issue and other demands in Riyadh, urging action to allow UNRWA full access for delivering aid in affected areas.
Malaysia’s proposal faces significant diplomatic hurdles, with UN Charter rules requiring Security Council approval for any member’s expulsion—a challenging task given the United States’ veto power and its longstanding support of Israel. However, Anwar stressed that a collective Arab-Muslim stance would strengthen efforts towards peace, justice, and a clear path to Palestinian sovereignty.
