SHAH ALAM - The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement does not seek to remove companies linked to Israel from Malaysia.
Instead, it called on these companies to stop supporting Israel's actions against Palestinians, highlighting that their boycott efforts were making an impact.
BDS chairman Professor Dr Mohd Nazari Ismail said the movement advocated for boycotts of Israel and any organisations complicit in supporting Israel’s actions against the Palestinians.
He said their objective of targeting Israel-related companies was not to expel them from Malaysia or cause financial harm, but rather to persuade them to cease their support for Israel and its actions against Palestinians.
"For decades, since before World War II, Palestinians have faced injustice, with hundreds of thousands killed, thousands of homes demolished and significant land seized.
"Since the illegal state of Israel's formation in 1948, about 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced and denied their right of return under the United Nations (UN) Resolution 194.
"Violence against Palestinians has persisted largely unnoticed, but since Oct 7, 2023, awareness has grown.
"Almost 40,000 Palestinians, many women and children, have now been killed, highlighting longstanding ethnic cleansing and escalating to genocide," he said.
Nazari said despite strong support for Israel from some Western governments, particularly in the United States (US) and Europe, BDS believed that ordinary individuals can make a difference by backing the global BDS movement in boycotting Israel and its allied organisations.
He highlighted that boycotts have proven effective, as seen in South Africa, where sustained international pressure was instrumental in ending apartheid in 1994.
"For those who oppose boycott efforts, they need to suggest an alternative way to support the Palestinian cause.
"Realistically, it is unlikely they would join Palestinian fighters and even if they did, Hamas would likely not welcome outside involvement.
"So, if they genuinely wish to help Palestinians, what options are available?," he said.
Citing examples of the effectiveness of boycotts, Nazari said Puma withdrew sponsorship from the Israeli Football Association while Veolia left the Israeli market and G4S ended contracts with Israel due to public pressure.
These examples, he said showed that targeted boycotts work.
"Prioritising justice for Palestinians, especially innocent women and children, should take precedence over profit margins," he said.