‘Condemnations will not stop the missiles’: Malaysia PM
Anwar Ibrahim, prime minister of Malaysia, has warned that words and declarations won’t be enough to stop Israel’s actions in the region.
“Our people have become wary of words. They have watched us issue condemnation after condemnation, declaration after declaration, while Israel escalates with impunity, as future generations will ask whether we found the courage to act. We do not ask nations to go beyond their basic obligations,” Ibrahim said.
“Condemnations will not stop the missiles. Declarations will not free Palestine. Severe, punitive actions must be put in place. Diplomatic engagements must cease, and so must take relations with Israel”.
Indonesia says Qatar attacks ‘tragic consequence’ of impunity for Israel
Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Indonesia’s vice president, says that “the Palestinian question is not solely about Palestine. It’s about the survival of our nations, the dignity of our people, and the sanctity of international law.”
In remarks delivered at the Doha summit, he strongly condemned Israel’s attacks on Qatar and expressed strong solidarity with the Gulf nation.
As for what measures the summit should take in response to Israel, he said that it “must not only issue collective condemnation against Israel, but also urge the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its mandate by taking firm and urgent measures to ensure accountability and prevent any recurrence”.
GCC to ‘activate joint defence mechanisms’ after Israel’s attack on Qatar
The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said it “condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli attack and the flagrant violation of the sovereignty” of Qatar and pledged to assess the GCC’s defence posture and activate “joint defence mechanisms and Gulf deterrent capabilities”.
“The Supreme Council affirmed the full solidarity of the GCC states with the State of Qatar in all measures it takes to confront this attack, stressing that the security of the GCC states is indivisible, and that any attack on any one of them is an attack on them all, in accordance with the GCC Charter and the Joint Defence Agreement,” it said in a communique issued after holding an extraordinary session at the Arab-Islamic summit in Doha.
It said the GCC’s military bodies will hold an urgent meeting to “assess the defensive posture of the GCC states” and to instruct the Unified Military Command “to take the necessary executive measures to activate joint defence mechanisms and Gulf deterrent capabilities”, without providing further details.
The Supreme Council said that Israel’s attack “impedes the intensive efforts undertaken by the State of Qatar and its role in mediating a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages and detainees, and the alleviation of the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people”.
Takeaways from final statement of the Arab-Islamic summit:
- Israel’s brutal aggression against Qatar undermines any prospects for peace in the region.
- We condemn in the strongest terms Israel’s cowardly and illegal attack on the State of Qatar.
- We respond with absolute solidarity with Qatar and support for its steps.
- An attack on a neutral mediation venue undermines international peacemaking processes.
- There is praise for Qatar’s civilised and wise stance in dealing with the treacherous attack.
- We support the efforts of mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States to stop the aggression in Gaza.
- We praise Qatar’s constructive and appreciated role in mediation and support for establishing security.
- We absolutely reject attempts to justify the Israeli aggression under any pretext – and absolutely reject Israel’s repeated threats of the possibility of targeting Qatar again.
GCC chief calls on Washington to leverage influence over Israel
Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, has delivered a very unequivocal message to Washington while responding to reporters’ questions at the Doha summit.
“We expect our strategic partners in the US to use their influence on Israel for it to stop this behaviour – we really do expect that,” Albudaiwi said.
“They have leverage and influence over Israel, and it’s about time that this leverage and influence are used”.
