On 11 November 2025, the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia, organised an IDFR Distinguished Lecture Series entitled “Gaza: What’s Next?” delivered by Prof Dr Hisham A. Hellyer, Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, United Kingdom. The session, moderated by Mr Sayed Munawar, TV host and producer, was held at Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
Prof Hellyer’s lecture emphasised that the foundation of the current conflict lies in the continued occupation of Palestinian territories, which international law clearly defines as occupied and from which Israel is obligated to withdraw. Calling the situation in Gaza as genocidal, Prof Hellyer noted that the scale of destruction in Gaza has been dramatically understated. He argued that Western states supplying arms shares the responsibility for this destruction, even as accountability remains absent despite International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC) findings. He explained that normalisation efforts – particularly between Saudi Arabia and Israel – have shifted significantly since 7 October 2023, with Riyadh insisting that the establishment of an actual Palestinian state must precede any agreement.
He warned that the current ‘20-point peace plan’ for Gaza risks entrenching an effective partition of the territory and is incompatible with the interests of international contributors. He further described the situation in the West Bank as an apartheid system marked by creeping annexation and outlined the emergence of a “new Middle East” shaped by Israeli strategic dominance, weak regional security architecture, steadfast in full U.S. support, and the mainstreaming of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim prejudice that influences policy.
During the Q&A session, participants raised several questions including on the viability of the Trump administration’s 20-point plan, the inconsistent application of international law, and the influence of the U.S. on regional outcomes. In response, Prof Hellyer addressed these concerns and concluded that without substantive revisions to the current plan and a credible political pathway for Palestinians, a sustainable solution remains out of reach.
The event concluded with a presentation of mementos to the speaker and moderator, as well as a group photo with all attendees, including representatives from ministries, government bodies, diplomatic corps and the academia. The discussion was highly engaging and is expected to be valuable for participants from all sectors in understanding the current situation, its challenges, and the direction in which the war in Gaza is heading.
