He said such a declaration by the international community could lead to more serious implications including putting an end to diplomatic relations and a ban on participating in various world events such as the Olympics.

“Previously Malaysia had declared openly to the world that we do not recognise Israel in our passports. Now, we must take a more decisive and radical step by officially declaring Israel as an apartheid state.

“The world must see the genocide of the Arab community, requisition of property and homes as well as large-scale ethnic cleansing by Zionists as a systematic apartheid and war crime rather than self-defence,” he said in a statement here today.

Khaled also urged the government to review its policy in favour of a “two-state solution” to the Palestine problem as circumstances had changed a lot and more and more Palestinian territories have been illegally occupied.

More than 119 Palestinians have reportedly been killed and hundreds more injured in the armed conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement following an Israeli assault on Al-Aqsa Mosque on May 7.