Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia has diplomatic ties with Egypt and Jordan and this facilitates matters of aid delivery via the Rafah border crossing that connects Gaza with Egypt, and the King Hussein Bridge crossing between West Bank and Jordan.
“To NGOs and individuals who are eager to help the oppressed people of Gaza, I say thank you. However, for delivering aid, it is best that we do it as a group, not in a haphazard way or as individuals.
“Get them (the NGOs) to inform Wisma Putra (the foreign ministry) and then we would inform Egypt and Jordan about the NGOs or operations to deliver food and such to Gaza. This will facilitate matters,” he told reporters after a constituency event.
He said a few Malaysian NGOs have been operating for a long time in the region, including Sumud Nusantara that owns a warehouse for storing aid in Egypt and which was active in delivering food to Gaza before the closure of the Rafah border crossing.
On the Gaza peace plan, Mohamad said Malaysia welcomed the decision by Hamas to agree to the proposal, calling it a “small window” for the delivery of humanitarian aid, although the 20 points that have been laid out give more concessions to Israel.
“If Hamas did not agree to the proposal, I see no other opportunity for Gazans to receive international aid. They would be continually attacked and most likely would be forced out of Gaza,” he said.
Mohamad said Malaysia would continue to push the United Nations to immediately hold an emergency summit to ensure the establishment of a free Palestinian state is implemented.
On Wednesday, US president Donald Trump announced that Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas had agreed to the first phase of the Gaza peace plan brokered by the US.
Asked about the participation of heads of states at the Asean summit this month, Mohamad said Malaysia as Asean chair could decide unilaterally whether to invite any particular leader or not.
“The thing that has dominated conversations now is the appearance of Trump. I ask the people to understand that it would provide us with ample opportunities to speak directly and (discuss) many matters that can be beneficial to Malaysia,” he said.