by S BIRRUNTHA / pic by AFP

THE leaders of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei have requested the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to convene an emergency session to address Israel’s oppressive attacks on the Palestinians.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah urged the organisation to come up with a Uniting for Peace resolution with a view to put an end to the atrocities carried out against the Palestinian people.

“We call upon the international community to remain resolute in their commitment in safeguarding the ‘two-state solution’ towards achieving an independent State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“We also urge the UN Security Council to act urgently and take all possible measures to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, bearing in mind the international community, and the UN Security Council, in particular, has a special responsibility to call for a cessation of all violence and fulfil its obligation of upholding international peace,” they said in a joint statement issued yesterday.

The three leaders condemn in the strongest term the repeated blatant violations and aggressions carried out by the Israelis targeting civilians throughout the occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, which have killed, injured and caused suffering to many, including women and children.

“We are also gravely concerned with the illegal expansion of settlements, and the demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

“We also unreservedly condemn the flagrant violations of international law, including humanitarian and human rights laws, perpetrated by Israel, the Occupying Power, through its inhumane, colonial and apartheid policies towards the Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and therefore call for an urgent and responsible collective action to ensure necessary accountability for such violations,” they said.

They called upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint, cease attacks against civilians, take steps in de-escalating the situation and uphold international law and order.

The joint statement urged both parties to accept a temporary international presence in the City of Al-Quds to monitor the cessation of hostilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The leaders also reiterated their solidarity with and commitment to the Palestinian people, including their rights to self-determination, and the creation of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine.

“We stand ready to support international efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant UN Resolutions and international law, including humanitarian law,” they added.

The Israeli attacks in the past few days have claimed the lives of more than 130 Palestinians, including children and women, leaving hundreds more injured.