The foreign ministers of Indonesia and Malaysia have both denounced Israel’s offensive on the Gaza Strip and urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to declare Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands illegal. The two nations were among 52 countries who were given the chance to address The Hague-based court on the legal consequences of Israel’s … Read more
Like many 24-year-olds, Indonesian Fikri Rofiul Haq says that he spends his days thinking about “content creation.” He imagines the engaging photographs he will take and post online, and the short videos he will film. He thinks about how he will speak directly to the camera as if he’s doing a live TV report, and … Read more
Central Asian jihadi groups affiliated with al-Qaida, the Islamic State (IS), and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have sought to capitalize on Muslim anger over Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and mass marches in capitals around the world to support Palestinians. Initially, Uzbek jihadi propagandists associated with Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), Katibat al-Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ), … Read more
The Palestinian militant group Hamas is still holding 15 Thai nationals hostage, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, after 17 were freed over several days during a truce between Hamas and Israel. In a statement today, the Ministry said that it “warmly congratulates the recently released hostages and their families and thanks all parties involved … Read more
Thai-Muslim politicians have received assurances from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas that all the Thai hostages being held would be among those released if and when a ceasefire occurs. The announcement was made to reporters yesterday by Lepong Syed, the president of the Thai-Iran Alumni Association, part of a team of Thai-Muslim politicians that has … Read more
ASEAN Beat | Diplomacy | Southeast Asia The country’s pro-Hamas stance may be distasteful to many, but the U.S. is unlikely to expend significant diplomatic and political capital in order to change it. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim addresses a pro-Palestine rally at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 24, 2023. Credit: X/Anwar Ibrahim Advertisement The … Read more
Advertisement Over the phone, Hiba Farra speaks with a demeanor that belies her situation. The Palestinian lawyer, who resides in Perth, told me of the horror that has been inflicted on her family over the last month in a heartbreakingly matter-of-fact tone. “I’ve lost over 40 members of my family in Gaza,” she said. “I … Read more
Advertisement On October 27, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on “Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations” in the context of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Originally proposed by Jordan, the resolution was the culmination of the tenth emergency special session of the UNGA, called to respond to … Read more
Advertisement Following a terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, Israel declared war on the group and began a brutal ground operation in Gaza that has left more than 7,500 dead – including many children – in three weeks. How have Central Asian governments reacted to the Israel-Palestine conflict? Four of the five Central Asian … Read more
In this photo provided by Thailand’s Foreign Ministry, Thai and Israeli officials, including the Thai Ambassador to Israel Pannabha Chandraramya, right, pay respect to the bodies of eight Thai nationals killed in Israel during the Israel-Hamas war, at the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, October 19, 2023, before the bodies are sent back … Read more