Malaysia backs South African claim Israel is committing genocide in Gaza

Malaysia has endorsed South Africa’s application before the International Court of Justice in The Hague alleging that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

“Malaysia welcomes the application by South Africa instituting proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ),” Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The legal action against Israel before ICJ is a timely and tangible step towards legal accountability for Israel's atrocities in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) at large.”

Like South Africa, Malaysia has taken a lead among countries in the global south, but outside of the Middle East, condemning Israel for its war in Gaza.

In December, Kuala Lumpur banned Israeli vessels from docking at Malaysian ports.

About 65 percent of the south east Asian country’s population is muslim with smaller minorities of buddhists and christians.