KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — France and Egypt, among the countries involved in the New York Declaration supporting the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, have invited Malaysia to serve as a co-convenor in the reconstruction efforts for Gaza.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said he received the invitation from his counterparts in the two countries via phone.
“So I will be going there (Cairo) to ensure Malaysia can contribute, even if not much, to the rebuilding of Gaza so that the situation can be restored, even if not immediately,” he said when winding up the debate on the 2026 Supply (Budget) Bill at the policy stage for the Foreign Ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Mohamad was responding to Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh's suggestion that a special fund be created under the Budget for Gaza’s reconstruction.
It is understood that a special conference on Gaza’s reconstruction, led by France and Egypt, will be held in Cairo at the end of this month.
On September 12, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly approved a resolution supporting the New York Declaration, which aims to recognise a Palestinian state and advance the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The resolution, officially titled "Support for the New York Declaration on a Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution", was adopted with 142 votes in favour, 10 against, and 12 abstentions.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said Malaysia is, in principle, always prepared to send its military personnel to join a peacekeeping mission in Gaza, provided it receives a mandate and an invitation from the UN.
“With a UN mandate, Malaysia has never failed to participate when invited to join a peacekeeping force, because we cannot send troops without a UN mandate,” he said.
