SHAH ALAM – The Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations (MAPIM) has called on the international community to take decisive action to end restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, stressing that food, medicine and other essential supplies must reach civilians in need.
MAPIM president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said the obstruction of humanitarian assistance should not be treated as an ordinary political dispute, but as an urgent humanitarian and legal issue requiring coordinated international action.
He said diplomatic expressions of concern were meaningless unless they resulted in the delivery of life-saving assistance to the affected population.
MAPIM said it was deeply alarmed by a report published by MintPress News on October 22 alleging that Israeli authorities had blocked international humanitarian aid trucks from entering Gaza, while access through the Egyptian border was also reportedly restricted.
However, the organisation stressed that the specific developments required independent verification.
“The legal and humanitarian principle is clear: humanitarian relief for civilians in need must be allowed and facilitated in accordance with international humanitarian law,” it said in a statement today.
MAPIM said any unlawful obstruction of aid must be challenged through effective international action.
It cited Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which requires an occupying power to agree to and facilitate relief schemes when an occupied population is inadequately supplied.
The organisation added that security inspections and arrangements for humanitarian deliveries could be permissible under international law, but must not become instruments for arbitrarily obstructing assistance, imposing undue delays or depriving civilians of essential supplies.
It also stressed that starvation must never be used as a method of warfare.
Referring to Article 54 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, MAPIM said the deliberate deprivation of food, water and other essentials for civilian survival, including through unlawful obstruction of humanitarian relief, could engage individual criminal responsibility when the relevant legal elements were established.
MAPIM further highlighted Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits collective penalties against protected persons.
It said Gaza’s civilian population could not lawfully be treated as collectively responsible for the actions of armed groups.
The organisation also referred to the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion dated October 22, 2025, concerning Israel’s obligations in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organisations and third states in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
MAPIM said the court had reaffirmed the importance of Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law concerning the provision and facilitation of humanitarian relief.
It stressed, however, that the advisory opinion was not a criminal judgment establishing individual criminal guilt for every reported obstruction of aid.
Among its key demands, MAPIM called for immediate and sustained humanitarian access to ensure sufficient supplies of food, drinking water, medicine, fuel, medical equipment and emergency shelter could enter Gaza.
It also urged the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the European Union, regional governments and countries with relevant diplomatic influence to work together to end unlawful restrictions.
The organisation proposed independent monitoring of humanitarian crossings, aid convoys, inspection procedures and delivery outcomes, with reliable information published on restrictions and their consequences for civilians.
It also called for the protection of humanitarian workers, medical teams, relief vehicles, warehouses and distribution points, as well as investigations into credible allegations of violations of international humanitarian law.
MAPIM urged the OIC to convene an urgent coordination meeting involving member states, humanitarian organisations and relevant international institutions to establish a practical action plan with clear responsibilities, measurable objectives and regular public reporting.
Malaysia, it said, should work with other countries committed to Palestinian rights to advance the initiative through the United Nations and appropriate diplomatic channels.
MAPIM said the international community must move beyond condemnation and demonstrate its commitment to international law through tangible action.
It said governments should assess whether sufficient humanitarian supplies were entering Gaza, civilians were receiving the assistance they needed, humanitarian organisations could operate safely and alleged unlawful restrictions were being investigated.
“The survival of Gaza’s civilian population must never be subordinated to political calculations. Humanitarian assistance must not be made conditional on civilians surrendering rights protected under international law,” it said.
MAPIM reiterated its call for the immediate removal of unlawful restrictions on humanitarian aid, effective international measures to secure access and accountability for violations established through credible investigations.
“Humanitarian relief must reach Gaza. International law must be enforced. Civilian lives must be protected,” it said. – DETIK MALAYSIA
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