Malaysia Hopes Gaza Ceasefire Will Pave the Way for Lasting Peace and Palestinian Statehood

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13: Malaysia has expressed hope that the recently announced ceasefire in Gaza will be sustained and serve as a pathway toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mohamad said Malaysia fully supports all international efforts aimed at ending the violence and long-standing suffering of the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which has endured months of relentless conflict.

“Alhamdulillah, we are happy that Hamas has agreed to accept the 20 points proposed by United States President Donald Trump. Although not all the terms are ideal, this represents the last window to stop the brutal killing of the Palestinian people,” he said.

“We are happy that Hamas accepted it. This is the first step, and we hope the ceasefire will last. We also pray that an independent Palestinian state can soon be realised.”

Mohamad made the remarks after accompanying Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to a briefing and inspection of preparations for the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

He added that Malaysia hopes the ceasefire will facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid directly into Gaza, particularly through the reopening of the Rafah border crossing and the King Hussein Bridge in Jordan.

The ceasefire plan, announced by President Trump on Wednesday, marks the first phase of a broader peace framework between Israel and Hamas.

According to reports, the 20-point plan, unveiled on Sept 29, includes the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. The second phase proposes the creation of a new administrative mechanism to govern Gaza.

As part of the ceasefire’s initial implementation, the Israeli regime has released 88 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences from Ofer Military Prison, west of Ramallah, the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) reported.

Additionally, approximately 1,718 detainees from Gaza, who were arrested after the conflict began on Oct 7, 2023, are also expected to be released.

For nearly 18 years, Israel has maintained a strict blockade on Gaza, home to around 2.4 million people. The restrictions were further tightened in recent months, worsening the humanitarian crisis.

Malaysia reiterated its call for the international community to support a lasting peace, grounded in justice and the recognition of Palestinian sovereignty and statehood.

— Voice of Malaysia News