This came in a joint statement issued following a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. The association expressed "grave concern" over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and condemned "all attacks targeting civilians and infrastructure," which have resulted in large numbers of casualties, particularly among women and children.
The statement criticized the continued restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid and essential supplies into Gaza, considering them to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis facing the population.
ASEAN commended the efforts of some of its member states in delivering aid to the Gaza Strip, calling on other members and international partners to continue providing humanitarian support to the Palestinians. ASEAN also affirmed its support for UNRWA and called for ensuring rapid, safe, and unhindered access for aid.
The statement also stressed the need to resume efforts to implement the two-state solution and reach a comprehensive peace settlement based on international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, calling on Israel to take the necessary steps to end its presence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
On the economic front, the association warned of escalating global trade tensions and growing uncertainty surrounding the economic environment, stressing that unilateral tariff policies threaten to exacerbate divisions and lead to adverse consequences for the international economy.
This warning comes after US President Donald Trump on Monday released a list of 14 countries on which he announced tariffs, including ASEAN member states such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.
It is noteworthy that ASEAN is a regional association founded in 1967, and includes ten countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.
