KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has expressed significant disappointment regarding the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) ongoing inability to pass a resolution that would call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into the area.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry strongly criticised the Security Council for not addressing what it described as one of the most severe humanitarian crises since World War II, attributing this failure to the use of veto power.
The ministry condemned the actions of the Israeli government, labelling them as acts of violence against civilians, genocide, and the use of starvation and aid blockades as instruments of war.
On Wednesday, the United States vetoed a UNSC draft resolution that aimed for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza, according to various international news sources.
This draft was put forward by Slovenia on behalf of ten elected Council members and garnered 14 votes in favour.
The proposed resolution highlighted serious concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the potential for famine, reminding all parties of their responsibilities under international humanitarian and human rights laws.
Despite the Security Council’s inaction, Malaysia emphasised the importance of the international community continuing its efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East.
The statement reiterated that a lasting resolution lies in the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, a view widely supported by the international community.
On the same day, the US vetoed the UNSC draft resolution, with the US Charge d’Affaires ad interim, Dorothy Shea, stating that the US’s opposition to the resolution should not be surprising.
She criticised the resolution for both its content and its advancement, asserting that any proposal that threatens Israel’s security is unacceptable and reaffirming Israel’s right to “self-defence”.
This veto marked the fifth instance of the US blocking ceasefire resolutions since the conflict in Gaza intensified, with previous vetoes occurring in October and December 2023, as well as in February and November 2024, alongside several abstentions. – June 5, 2025