Malaysia says working on resolution to expel Israel from United Nations

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Anwar says his country is part of a core group drafting a resolution, which, among others, proposes that Israel be expelled from the UN General Assembly following its human rights violations and genocidal crimes.

Anwar told the Malaysian parliament on Monday that the draft resolution is in the negotiation process and is expected to be presented at the UNGA for approval “soon."

“Strong measures, including Israel's removal from the United Nations following Israel's human rights violations and genocidal crimes, must be enforced as soon as possible,” he noted.

“Malaysia will ensure that the agenda is heard and given attention so that the atrocities of the Israeli regime can be stopped, besides allowing critical aid to reach the Palestinian people at a time when the massacre continues to worsen,” Anwar said.

Once approved, Anwar said, the resolution is expected to be a legal basis for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to continue providing basic services, including education, health treatment and humanitarian aid.

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Last week, the Israeli Knesset (parliament) passed a bill banning UNRWA from operating, which would eventually affect its work in the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds. The legislation will take effect in 90 days.

Israel alleges fighters of Palestinian resistance group Hamas have infiltrated UNRWA.

The UN agency denies the allegations and says it takes measures to ensure its neutrality.

UNRWA on Monday said Israel’s ban on its operations would lead to the “collapse” of humanitarian work in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

“If this law is implemented, it would be likely to cause the collapse of the international humanitarian operation in the Gaza Strip – an operation of which UNRWA is the backbone,” Jonathan Fowler, UNRWA spokesman, told the AFP news agency.

The UN agency has been providing education, healthcare and other basic services to Palestinian refugees following the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 and creation of the Israeli regime.

Palestinian refugees now number nearly six million. Refugee families make up the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million population.

The UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has already urged the suspension of Israel’s UN membership, citing repeated violations of international law and the occupation of Palestinian territories.

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