Malaysia Blocks Israel-based Shipping Company Docking at Its Ports
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20 December 2023 14:44 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Malaysian government on Wednesday, Dec. 20 announced that it will block Israeli-based shipping company ZIM from docking in its ports so long as the invasion in Gaza continues.
In a statement, the office of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that the action was taken in response to Israel's actions against Palestinians in Gaza, citing that it was a "continuous massacres and atrocities".
At the same time, Malaysia had also decided to prohibit ships displaying Israel’s flag from docking at the country’s ports. Any vessels heading for Israel are also prohibited from loading cargo at Malaysia’s ports.
“Both of these prohibitions take effect immediately,” PM Anwar said.
Malaysia's persistent support for Gaza caused the Southeast Asian country to receive three demarche notes from Israel's long-standing ally, the United States.
Anwar said that Malaysia was asked in three separate instances to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Oct. 13 and 30, and another sent to its Ambassador in Washington to reconsider its position and stop classifying Hamas as a non-terrorist group.
"However, I have already answered this during the recent solidarity rally (held in Axiata Arena), where I emphasized that Malaysia maintains its independent position based on humanitarian considerations and views the invasion as unlawful and against international norms," the prime minister said.
As an independent and sovereign nation, Anwar stressed that Malaysia has the right to express its position on relevant issues, especially those concerning universal human rights.
After the Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas dubbed Operation Al Aqsa Flood, Israeli forces have been going on a bombing campaign and invasion in Gaza. Thus far, Israel has killed almost 20,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
AL JAZEERA | SITA PLANASARI
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