Malaysia’s guided missile frigate KD Lekiu is expected to be part of the exercise.
Rimpac 2024 will take place in and around the Hawaiian islands from June 26 to Aug 2 and is organised under the auspices of the office of the Commander of the US Pacific Fleet.
“We call on the government to immediately withdraw from Rimpac 2024 to protest against the participation of the Israeli military in that exercise,” the group said in a joint statement today.
It said Israel has shown “nothing but blatant disregard” for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings in January and March as well as the United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire.
“On May 24, the ICJ explicitly called for a halt in Israel’s Rafah onslaught. The Israeli government and opposition leaders, in line with the behaviour of a rogue lawless state, have scornfully dismissed the ICJ ruling,” it said.
The group also pointed out that Israel had responded “contemptuously” to the International Criminal Court’s decision to apply for arrest warrants for its leaders for war crimes against the Palestinians in Gaza.
“The world should stop treating it like a normal, law-abiding state if it wants Israeli criminality in Gaza and the West Bank to stop.
“We reiterate our call on the Malaysian government to immediately withdraw from Rimpac 2024 to drive home that message,” it said.
The group comprises 15 NGOs, including BDS Malaysia, Muslim Professionals Forum, Muslim Care Malaysia, Viva Palestina Malaysia, Quds Foundation Malaysia, and Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (Centhra).
Twenty-nine countries are expected to take part in Rimpac 2024. It will feature 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel.
Rimpac 2024 is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971. It is known as the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
This year’s exercise also includes forces from Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and the UK.