In a recent announcement, the Malaysian government has taken a strong stance by imposing an immediate ban on Israeli-owned and flagged ships from docking at its ports. The decision, coming in response to Israel’s actions in the conflict with Hamas, aims to express Malaysia’s disapproval of what it perceives as Israel’s disregard for humanitarian principles and violations of international law.
The Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, stated that the sanction is a direct response to Israel’s ongoing actions, describing them as a “massacre” and “continuous cruelty” against the Palestinian people. Malaysia, with its Muslim-majority population, has a history of advocating for Palestinian rights and does not recognize Israel. This move aligns with the positions of neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Brunei, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Pakistan.
The recent military actions by Israel in Gaza, following attacks by Hamas in October, have sparked mass rallies in Malaysia, exerting political pressure on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister, known for his outspoken stance against Israel and its backers, emphasized in a parliamentary speech in November that the government would maintain ties with Hamas, despite their actions in Israel on October 7, which resulted in casualties and hostages.
Malaysian passports explicitly state “Valid for all countries except Israel,” and Israeli passport holders are prohibited from entering Malaysia without prior permission. The government’s announcement highlighted that Israeli-registered companies and ships had been allowed to dock in Malaysia since 2005. However, the current government has decided to override past decisions and prohibit ships using Israeli flags from docking in the country.
Specific mention was made of the Israel-based global shipping company ZIM, noting that its vessels had been docking in Malaysia since 2002. In addition to the ban on Israeli-owned and flagged ships, Malaysia has also implemented a ban on any ship heading to Israel from loading cargo at Malaysian ports. This move underscores Malaysia’s firm stance against Israel’s actions and its commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause.
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