Malaysia now stands at a defining moment to further strengthen its leadership in justice, peace, international law, and the protection of human rights. In this spirit, we respectfully urge the immediate implementation of a travel ban on individuals accused or convicted of the war crime of genocide, in full alignment with Malaysia’s longstanding commitment to global justice.
We draw your attention to all current and former members of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), together with all associated parties responsible for formulating, directing, or implementing the genocidal policies of the Israeli government. These actions have been documented in open source materials, including official reports from international organisations, news accounts, and social media. They are actions which, as ruled by the International Court of Justice on 26 January 2024, necessitated urgent provisional measures to safeguard the rights of the Palestinians in Gaza from genocide and other acts prohibited under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (hereinafter the “Genocide Convention”).
Most recently, the landmark report – “Gaza Genocide: A Collective Crime” concluded that “the ongoing genocide in Gaza is a collective crime, sustained by the complicity of influential Third States that have enabled longstanding systemic violations of international law by Israel.” The same report asserts that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza under the 1948 Genocide Convention, holding senior Israeli officials responsible for acts of extermination and destruction of civilian life.
We also refer to the report released by Francesca Albanese, the Special Rappoteur on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, titled “Anatomy of a Genocide”, which details the destruction of Gaza and the violations against the Palestinian people, described as“an unparalleled humanitarian catastrophe”.
We also highlight the published findings of Amnesty International, a global movement of 10 million people, in its December 2024 report titled “You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza”. The report documents the deliberate actions amounting to genocide, in clear breach of international laws.
We also highlight the published findings of Amnesty International, a global movement of 10 million members, in its December 2024 report titled “‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: UAE’s Genocide Against Africans in Sudan.” The report examined the deliberate destruction of Palestinians in Gaza and concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip.
In addition, several international organisations have publicly condemned the actions of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza this year, including:
- Human Rights Watch (HRW): HRW reported on multiple attacks by Israeli forces on known aid worker locations in Gaza, emphasizing the need to end unlawful attacks and ensure accountability .
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): MSF condemned specific attacks on their facilities and staff, including a deadly strike on a shelter that resulted in casualties among their personnel.
- World Health Organization (WHO): The WHO expressed alarm over the impact of the conflict on healthcare facilities and personnel in Gaza, condemning attacks that violate international humanitarian laws.
Finally, we refer to the existing arrest warrants issued against the architects of this genocide, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Israeli former Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant. The 124 countries that signed the Rome Statute are now responsible for closing their borders and implementing the arrest warrant should these individuals enter their jurisdictions.
Malaysia has long stood on the right side of history. At this moment, when the world watches and victims await protection, Malaysia has the opportunity to demonstrate its principles by taking decisive, preventative measures that affirm its commitment to human rights. We respectfully urge the Government to enact the proposed travel ban and, in doing so, send an unmistakable message: that genocide, in all its forms and at any distance, will find no refuge, no safe harbour, and no silent allies on Malaysian soil.
It is further noteworthy that Israeli citizens who are currently prohibited from entering Malaysia, have been able to enter the country through the use of an alternative passport. This practice defeats the very purpose of Malaysia’s non-diplomatic stance towards Israel and exposes a critical loophole that must be addressed to safeguard the integrity and original intent of the policy.