Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have condemned all attacks against civilians and called for "a durable cease-fire" as the Middle East conflict intensifies.

In a joint statement issued Oct 2020 during the inaugural ASEAN-GCC Summit in Riyadh, ASEAN and GCC leaders have called for the "most effective and efficient" access for humanitarian aid; the restoration of electricity and water services; and to allow the unhindered delivery of fuel, food and medicine throughout Gaza.

This was the first time that ASEAN has issued a statement since Hamas militants launched a surprise attack against Israel on Oct 7. ASEAN members, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, have earlier issued their individual statement on the issue.

As Israeli defense minister indicated an upcoming a ground invasion into Gaza, ASEAN leaders have called for the immediate and unconditional release of civilian hostages and to refrain from targeting civilians in accordance with the principles and provisions of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949.

Southeast Asian governments, specifically the Philippines and Thailand, are busy evacuating their citizens working in Israel. The Philippine embassy in Tel-Aviv has helped 17 workers get home but the majority of the over 30,000 Filipinos in Israel have decided to stay, according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said 8,160 Thais have registered for voluntary repatriation.

ASEAN and GCC leaders also urged for a peaceful resolution to the conflict with a view to realizing the two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders. They also support the initiatives of Saudi Arabia, the European Union and the League of Arab States to revive the Middle East peace process in cooperation with Egypt and Jordan.

prime@chinadailyapac.com