Malaysia's Call For Global Action Against Israel Represents Principled Stance Based On Legal Grounds

By Mohd Fharkhan Abdul Ghapar

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s emphatic call for coordinated global action against Israel represents a bold and principled stance rooted in international law, sending a clear political message amid escalating violence in Gaza.

In the National Statement delivered at the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha on Monday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged the Muslim world to collectively impose harsh measures, including the suspension of diplomatic and trade ties with Israel, to pressure the Zionist regime over its continued aggression against Palestinians.

International relations expert Assoc Prof Dr Khoo Ying Hooi of Universiti Malaya described Malaysia’s firm stance as placing the country on a “moral high ground”, using the language of accountability in line with the Global South’s growing voice in world affairs.

“Anwar’s call is grounded in international legal mechanisms because the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has already issued several provisional measures against Israel, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) has initiated proceedings against individuals allegedly involved in war crimes,” she told Bernama.

 Khoo noted that while binding sanctions under Chapter VII of the United Nations (UN) Charter often face vetoes in the Security Council, there are practical and legal alternatives available to nations acting in concert.

“These include suspending diplomatic ties, imposing trade restrictions, enforcing arms embargoes, and supporting the ICC’s legal processes,” she said.

From a diplomatic standpoint, Khoo suggested immediate steps such as downgrading or cutting ties with Israel, limiting official visits, and closing airspace or ports to Israeli entities.

These, she said, would carry strong symbolic weight and signal growing international isolation of the regime.

On the economic front, she emphasised the importance of targeted arms embargoes and the control of dual-use exports, as they are directly linked to Israeli military strength.

“Financial sanctions, such as freezing assets of individuals or companies involved in illegal settlements, would increase the political and economic cost for those complicit in the occupation,” she explained.

Khoo said that other legal measures include enhanced cooperation with the ICC, universal jurisdiction-based prosecutions by individual countries, and international monitoring of ICJ rulings, framing the Palestine issue as not just a political issue, but one of international criminal accountability.

She said that Malaysia’s proposal could potentially reshape the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) if backed by an implementation mechanism, such as a coordinated task force to enforce arms embargoes or a list of entities involved in illegal settlements.

“As ASEAN Chair 2025, Malaysia also holds a unique position to bridge Southeast Asia and the Islamic world, bringing the Palestinian issue to a broader international platform.

“Malaysia can also propose the establishment of an ASEAN-OIC Contact Group on Palestine to coordinate joint statements and actions at the UN General Assembly,” she said.

She stressed that ASEAN’s disaster management experience, particularly through ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), could be instrumental in supporting humanitarian corridors into Gaza, while the OIC could offer political and financial backing.

Additionally, Khoo Malaysia could advocate for ASEAN to formally support ICJ and ICC decisions, aligning the bloc’s voice with that of the Islamic world.

“This approach not only showcases Anwar’s leadership but also strengthens ASEAN’s credibility as a bloc attentive to global humanitarian concerns,” she added.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah, said Anwar’s statement also puts moral pressure on countries allied with the United States to use their influence to end Israeli violence.

He maintained that Malaysia would continue to be viewed as a principled and outspoken nation on the Palestinian issue, with a firm grounding in human rights and international law.

At the same time, he dismissed concerns that Malaysia’s strong stance might jeopardise bilateral relations with the US, noting that both nations share robust ties in areas such as trade, investment, education, and maritime security.

“Malaysia’s remarks are made within the framework of international law and humanitarian concerns, reducing the risk of being perceived as anti-American,” he said.

Mohd Faiz said Anwar’s vocal support for Palestine underscores Malaysia’s consistent moral leadership and may help shape global narratives on the conflict.

“By positioning Malaysia as a courageous voice from the Global South, Anwar strengthens the country’s image as a normative player that champions human rights and international law,” he said.

He also acknowledged potential economic downsides, such as possible investment hesitancy from companies aligned with Israel or its allies.

“However, Malaysia’s diverse network of trade and investment partners across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America provides a sufficient buffer.

“Malaysia is not overly reliant on any single bloc. This diversified economic strategy allows us to absorb and offset any fallout from our principled stand relating to Palestine,” he noted.

Moreover, Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to international law and human rights could be seen as a competitive advantage by like-minded investors seeking a stable, principled, and values-driven partner, he added.

– BERNAMA