Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s approach to the Gaza crisis combines moral resolve, international law and humanitarian aid, says a defence analyst
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s diplomatic approach in addressing the Gaza crisis deserves support as it combines moral resolve, arguments grounded in international law, diplomatic pressure and a commitment to humanitarian assistance, said Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia’s (UPNM) Honorary Professor Dr Mizan Aslam.
Mizan said the Gaza crisis was no longer merely an Israel-Palestine conflict, but had become a reflection of the failure of international law, the weaknesses of global institutions and the inability of major powers to protect civilians.
Citing the latest data, he said that after 1,000 days of war in Gaza, 73,066 people had been killed, 173,514 injured, 5,400 had suffered disabilities and amputations, while 8,922 families had been affected by the attacks. Of those killed, 21,730 were children, while 45,113 children had been injured and 59,054 had been orphaned.
“At the same time, more than 90 per cent of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed, with 81 per cent of all structures damaged or demolished, 92 per cent of residential homes affected, nearly 90 per cent of water and sanitation infrastructure damaged, and 91 per cent of households facing severe water shortages.
“This situation shows that Gaza is now facing a crisis involving the protection of civilians, public health and international humanitarian concerns,” he said in a statement.
On Malaysia’s stance, he said Anwar’s leadership was also reflected in the country’s support for South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over alleged violations of the 1948 Genocide Convention.
He said the move demonstrated that Malaysia was not merely condemning the situation on the political stage but was also supporting international legal mechanisms to ensure accountability for alleged crimes against humanity.
Mizan said Anwar had also raised the Gaza issue through multilateral diplomatic channels, including the Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit, by calling for stronger action to end the atrocities against the Palestinian people, strengthen support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and increase international pressure on parties that continue to supply weapons.
“On issues such as Gaza, the influence of a middle-power country like Malaysia can be amplified through the collective voice of the international community,” he said.
Mizan said the Prime Minister’s approach was also pragmatic, as he continued to emphasise the importance of diplomatic negotiations, the release of humanitarian activists, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
That commitment has been reinforced through an initial allocation of RM100 million for humanitarian assistance to Gaza, at a time when 1.97 million people in the territory are facing acute food insecurity, including 641,000 experiencing famine or catastrophic levels of hunger.
He said Gaza had also recorded 466 deaths linked to malnutrition, 17,800 cases of malnutrition among children under the age of five in 2025, and 68,996 cases of severe malnutrition in the same age group as of May 2026.
Commenting on the state of Gaza’s healthcare system, Mizan said 40 hospitals and 158 primary healthcare centres had been targeted, with 825 attacks on healthcare facilities recorded, resulting in the deaths of 1,723 healthcare workers, while another 362 had been detained.
He said Malaysia’s stance went beyond merely calling for a ceasefire, stressing the need for a comprehensive political solution through the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state.
The approach is consistent with the concept of ‘active non-alignment’ – a foreign policy that enables Malaysia to adopt positions based on principles, values and national interests, particularly in defending the protection of civilians, ensuring humanitarian access, promoting legal accountability, and upholding the Palestinian people’s right to live in a sovereign state.
“Malaysia may not be able to end the Gaza crisis on its own, but it can ensure that the issue continues to be raised before international courts, at global conferences, through diplomatic channels and in the conscience of the international community.
“That is the essence of Anwar’s diplomacy – translating solidarity into action backed by accountability,” he said.
