THROUGHOUT 2025, Malaysia maintained a steadfast commitment to the Palestinian cause, combining diplomatic advocacy with on-the-ground humanitarian support to address what it has described as one of the most severe humanitarian crises of modern times.
Since the Gaza conflict erupted in October 2023, Malaysia has consistently championed Palestinian rights in accordance with its foreign policy grounded in universal humanitarian principles and justice.
At the Arab-Islamic Emergency Summit in Qatar last September, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called for punitive action against Israel, condemning its refusal to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state.
“Israel’s refusal to recognise Palestine amounts to blatant apartheid, defiance, and violations of United Nations resolutions,” Bernama reported him stating.
Anwar also reiterated Malaysia’s position at multiple high-level international gatherings, including a private meeting with United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in October.
Domestically, the government launched a RM100 million humanitarian aid fund for Palestine during the ‘Malam Himpunan dan Selawat Malaysiaku Bersama Gaza’ event in Dataran Merdeka in August, signalling a coordinated strategy of diplomacy and direct support.
At the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan stressed the limitations imposed by the UN Security Council veto, which he said hindered global efforts to stop the bloodshed in Gaza.
He outlined Malaysia’s three guiding principles: taking concrete action against Israel as the occupying power, fostering the establishment of Palestine as a sovereign state, and implementing comprehensive UN reforms to enhance Security Council effectiveness.
Malaysia also played a pivotal role in the formation of The Hague Group, an international coalition advocating for legal measures and comprehensive sanctions against Israel, including an arms embargo, framing these as moral imperatives for the global community.
On the ground, Malaysia actively contributed to humanitarian missions.
Through the Sumud Nusantara initiative, 34 Malaysian volunteers, including community leaders, politicians, celebrities, and journalists, joined a flotilla of small vessels and 500 international activists attempting to deliver aid to Gaza while defying Israel’s blockade.
The operation, protected by international security cooperation with Italian and Spanish patrol vessels, faced significant provocation, including drone attacks, and culminated in the detention of 23 Malaysians alongside hundreds of other activists.
During this tense period, the Sumud Nusantara Command Centre in Sepang maintained 24-hour monitoring and live communication with families and the public.
The detentions sparked widespread public solidarity, with thousands of Malaysians protesting outside the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to demand the release of the peace activists.
All 23 Malaysians were eventually released and returned home on October 8, greeted by Anwar and tens of thousands of supporters at the Gaza Solidarity Gathering at Axiata Arena. In the same week, seven Malaysians involved in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition were briefly detained before their release five days later.
Reflecting on these developments, Malaysia’s commitment to Palestine extends beyond diplomatic engagement, embodying a moral and societal responsibility.
From international forums to public demonstrations, the nation has demonstrated a holistic approach to advocacy, combining principled foreign policy with grassroots solidarity to keep the Palestinian plight at the forefront of global and domestic consciousness. - December 11, 2025
