Palestinians walk at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. More than 100 have been killed and hundreds of others wounded in airstrikes on Monday. REUTERS pic
Palestinians walk at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. More than 100 have been killed and hundreds of others wounded in airstrikes on Monday. REUTERS pic

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia condemns in the strongest terms the large-scale offensive in Rafah where millions of displaced civilians are seeking refuge.

The Foreign Ministry said the inhumane assault will worsen the current humanitarian catastrophe, exacerbate tension in the region, and further derail efforts towards immediate cessation of hostilities and permanent ceasefire.

"Malaysia demands Israel immediately desist and abide by its obligations under international law," it said in a statement.

Wisma Putra emphasised that the dastardly military operation clearly indicates the key goal by the Zionist regime to annihilate the Palestinians from their own land.

It also clearly shows the regime's blatant disregard of fundamental principles of international law and a clear contempt of the rulings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Jan 26 on the six provisional measures.

"The international community cannot let this belligerent act by one of its members continue without impunity," it stated.

According to Wisma Putra, Malaysia echoes the calls by the United Nations secretary-general for an immediate halt to the vile plan and urges the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take swift and decisive action to stop the massacre being perpetrated by the Zionist regime.

"This includes compelling responsible members of the international community to suspend support to the regime," it added.

Wisma Putra said Malaysia's resolute support and solidarity with the Palestinian people remained unwavering, including towards their right to self-determination, the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, and accepted as a full member of the UN.

Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that the Israeli attack on Rafah early Monday morning killed more than 100 civilians, including women and children, with hundreds more injured.

About 1.4 million Palestinians are now in Rafah after the Israeli military forced a mass displacement of residents from the north to the south of Gaza. — Bernama