2-7-2024 (JAKARTA) Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed Malaysia’s willingness to collaborate with Indonesia in deploying peacekeeping forces to Palestine, should a mandate be granted by the United Nations. This potential joint mission was a key point of discussion during a recent telephone conversation between Anwar and Indonesia’s president-elect and defence minister, Prabowo Subianto.
Taking to Facebook, Anwar shared insights into the conversation, revealing that the two leaders exchanged views on current issues, including Prabowo’s efforts in promoting regional and global cooperation, vision, and peace. The Prime Minister also welcomed the idea of cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia in an international peacekeeping mission, suggesting the possibility of extending this collaboration to the broader ASEAN region.
“In the three-minute phone conversation, we exchanged views on current issues, including Prabowo’s role in representing Indonesia on the international stage lately and his efforts in promoting regional and global vision, collaboration and peace,” Anwar wrote. “I also welcomed the idea of cooperation in the Malaysia-Indonesia international peacekeeping mission and the possibility of expanding this collaboration at the ASEAN level.”
The concept of a joint peacekeeping force in Palestine is not entirely new, as Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto had previously expressed his nation’s willingness to deploy “significant peacekeeping forces” to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza, should the need arise. Additionally, he stated that Indonesia was prepared to evacuate and treat wounded Palestinians in Indonesian hospitals.
Anwar Ibrahim’s openness to this potential collaboration comes amidst ongoing tensions and conflicts in the region, underscoring the importance of international cooperation and diplomacy in resolving complex geopolitical issues.
Last October, the Malaysian Prime Minister had acknowledged that sending troops overseas is not a simple decision for any government to make. However, he emphasized that should the need arise, Malaysia would make a collective decision with its allies and neighbors to take whatever necessary actions to assist the Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has claimed numerous lives, with the latest figures from AFP indicating that Hamas’s attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians. In retaliation, Israel’s offensive has killed at least 37,877 people, also predominantly civilians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
