EGYPT, FRANCE INVITE MALAYSIA TO BE CO-CONVENOR IN GAZA RECONSTRUCTION

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- 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, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Mohamad said he received the invitation from his counterparts in the two countries through phone calls.

“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.

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Mohamad was responding to a suggestion by Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (PH-Ledang) 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.

Earlier, media reports stated that the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Sept 12 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 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.

-- BERNAMA