Malaysia has announced that it will not allow any ships flying the Israeli flag to enter or use its ports, in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
The decision was made by the Malaysian Cabinet on Wednesday, following a proposal by the Transport Ministry. The ministry said that the ban was a response to Israel’s “inhumane, oppressive and brutal acts” against the Palestinians, and a way to express Malaysia’s strong condemnation of the violence.
The ministry also said that the ban was in line with Malaysia’s long-standing position of not having any diplomatic relations with Israel, and supporting the Palestinian cause. Malaysia is one of the few countries in the world that does not recognize Israel as a state, and has been a vocal critic of its policies.
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The ban will affect any ships that are registered in Israel, or that have Israeli owners or operators. The ministry said that it will work with the relevant authorities to enforce the ban, and urged other countries to take similar measures.
The move comes as the war between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist terror group that rules Gaza, enters its 75th day, with no sign of a lasting ceasefire. The conflict has killed more than 2,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 134 Israelis, mostly soldiers, according to official sources.
The UN has warned of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 100,000 people have been displaced and infrastructure has been severely damaged.
