Malaysia Rejects Any Plan to Relocate Displaced Palestinians to Somaliland, Says Prime Minister Anwar

Putrajaya, The Gulf Observer: Malaysia has firmly rejected any attempt to use the self-declared “Republic of Somaliland” or any other territory as a destination for the forced transfer of Palestinians displaced from the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a special press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Anwar said Malaysia fully aligns with the stance taken by many countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in opposing Israel’s recent decision to recognise Somaliland as an independent state.

“We express opposition to any attempts to use Somaliland or any other territory as a destination for the forceful transfer or displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Such a notion is totally and wholly unacceptable,” Anwar said. “It violates international law and humanitarian principles, and will perpetuate injustice rather than contribute to peace.”

The prime minister said he had taken note of recent discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Donald Trump at the latter’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, stressing that the international community must prevent any return to large-scale violence.

“Let us be clear, there must be no return to large-scale violence. Any resumption would exact an intolerable cost on civilians and further erode already fragile prospects for peace,” he said, adding that Israel must be held fully accountable for its actions and obligations under international law.

On Monday, Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland as an independent state, a move that sparked condemnation from several countries, including China, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognised by the wider international community.

Israel’s decision has drawn criticism amid reports suggesting that the recognition was linked to proposals to resettle displaced Palestinians in Somaliland. Israel has not commented on the reports, while Somaliland authorities said Israel’s recognition of its independence was unrelated to the Palestinian issue.

Despite a truce that entered its first phase in October, Israel has been accused of repeatedly violating ceasefire agreements by launching attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip. Since Oct 7, 2023, more than 70,000 people have been killed in Gaza, with over 171,000 injured, according to reports.

Separately, Anwar said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) would continue to closely monitor developments in Myanmar following the conclusion of the first phase of the country’s junta-run elections.

“We will be guided by the need to reduce violence, avoid actions that could deepen division or confer premature legitimacy, and preserve the possibility of an inclusive and credible pathway forward,” he said.

Myanmar’s main pro-military party has claimed an overwhelming victory in the first phase of the elections, which concluded on Sunday. The second phase is scheduled for Jan 11, while no date has yet been announced for the third phase.