Malaysia urges global community to make Israel lift Gaza blockade
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Malaysia, which chairs the world's largest Islamic bloc, urged the global community Tuesday to make Israel lift its blockade of Gaza before it turns into a humanitarian catastrophe.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who chairs the 57-member Organization of Islamic Conference, condemned the blockade and the closing of all border crossings between Israel and Gaza as "inhumane."
"The Palestinians have the right of access to food, fuel and medicine. The inhumane action by the Israelis would make the living conditions of the Palestinian people even more unbearable," Abdullah said in a statement.
The blockade has "exacerbated the already worsening humanitarian crisis in the area and this will cause a humanitarian catastrophe," he warned.
Abdullah also called on the United Nations to hold an open-ended session of the UN Security Council so that other countries could participate on the debate on Gaza.