Malaysia to mediate Thailand-Cambodia peace talks
Thailand and Cambodia's leaders will meet in Malaysia for peace talks on Monday, as the countries clashed for a fourth day in a deadly border dispute.
At least 34 people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced as the countries, both popular tourist destinations, fight over a smattering of contested border temples.
Bangkok announced on Sunday that acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet will meet for talks mediated by Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs the ASEAN regional bloc of which Thailand and Cambodia are members.
Anwar said the expected talks were to focus on an immediate ceasefire between the two fighting neighbours.
"They (government representatives of Cambodia and Thailand) have asked me to try and negotiate a peace settlement," the Bernama national news agency quoted Anwar as saying late Sunday.
"I'm discussing the parameters, the conditions, but what is important is (an) immediate ceasefire," the Malaysian premier said.
Cambodia has not commented on the planned talks, which are due to begin at 3:00 pm (0700 GMT).
US President Donald Trump, who spoke to both leaders late Saturday, said they had agreed to "quickly work out" a ceasefire.
Trump has threatened both nations with eye-watering levies in his global tariff blitz unless they agree to independent trade deals.
"When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!" he wrote on social media.
Fresh artillery clashes erupted on Sunday morning near two long-contested ancient temples in the frontier region between northern Cambodia and northeast Thailand which has seen the bulk of the fighting.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Thailand, Cambodia to enter unconditional ceasefire tonight
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during a press conference next to Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on the day of mediation talks on the Thailand–Cambodia border conflict, in Putrajaya, Malaysia July 28, 2025. Mohd Rasfan/Pool via REUTERS Thailand and Cambodia will enter into an unconditional ceasefire starting at midnight on Monday, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced. 'Both Cambodia and Thailand reached a common understanding as follows: One, an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from 24 hours local time, midnight on 28th July 2025, tonight,' Anwar said after mediation talks in Malaysia. Thailand and Cambodia began discussing a ceasefire in their festering border dispute on Monday, as the deadly skirmish dragged into a fifth day. More than 200,000 people fled the frontier as the two exchanged artillery, rockets and gunfire in the disputed area, which is home to a collection of ancient temples. A series of motorcades, including some sporting US and Chinese flags, arrived at Seri Perdana, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's official residence, on Monday afternoon. A helicopter buzzed over the administrative capital as Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet met shortly after 0700 GMT. Monday's meeting comes after US President Donald Trump intervened, making a late-night weekend call to both Southeast Asian leaders, who he said agreed to 'quickly work out' a truce. Anwar, whose country currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is mediating, while US State Department officials and a Chinese delegation were also present. Ahead of the talks, Thailand and Cambodia traded fresh fire and accusations. Phumtham said Bangkok did not believe Phnom Penh 'is acting in good faith.' Meanwhile, Cambodia's defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said Monday was 'the fifth day that Thailand has invaded Cambodia's territory with heavy weapons and with the deployment of a lot of troops'.
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Thailand, Cambodia agree truce after five days of fighting
PUTRAJAYA: Thailand and Cambodia's leaders agreed to an 'unconditional' ceasefire Monday, after five days of combat along their jungle-clad frontier that has killed at least 36 people. More than 200,000 people have fled as the two sides fired artillery, rockets and guns in a battle over the long-disputed area, which is home to a smattering of ancient temples. The flare-up was the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008-2011 over the territory, claimed by both sides because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. Reading a joint statement from the leaders of both countries after peace talks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said they had agreed 'an immediate and unconditional ceasefire' with effect from midnight Monday (1700 GMT). 'This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,' he said at a press conference in Malaysia's administrative capital Putrajaya, flanked by Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet. Anwar said a meeting of military commanders from both sides would take place on Tuesday morning, before the countries' cross-border committee would meet in Cambodia on August 4. Thai and Cambodian leaders head to Malaysia for peace talks As the deal was being announced, an AFP journalist in the Cambodian city of Samraong – 17 kilometres (10 miles) from the fraught frontier – reported hearing continuing artillery blasts. 'Very good results' US President Donald Trump – who both nations are courting for trade deals to avert the threat of eye-watering tariffs – intervened over the weekend, and said both sides had agreed to 'quickly work out' a truce. 'Today we had a very good meeting and very good results,' said Cambodia's Hun Manet, thanking Trump for his 'decisive' support and saying the truce would serve as 'a foundation for future de-escalation'. Ahead of the summit, Thailand and Cambodia had traded fresh fire and barbed accusations. Cambodia's defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said it was 'the fifth day that Thailand has invaded Cambodia's territory with heavy weapons and with the deployment of a lot of troops'. Thailand and Cambodia to hold peace talks after more border clashes And as he departed Bangkok airport, Phumtham told reporters he did not believe Cambodia was 'acting in good faith'. After the talks hosted by Anwar – chair of the ASEAN bloc of which both Thailand and Cambodia are members – Phumtham called for the truce to be 'carried out in good faith by both sides'. 'Thailand decides for peaceful resolution, while continuing to protect our sovereignty and the lives of our people,' he said. 'Highly tense' On the eve of the talks, Thailand's military said Cambodian snipers were camped in one of the contested temples, and accused Phnom Penh of surging troops along the border and hammering Thai territory with rockets. It said there was fighting at seven areas in the rural region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and fields where locals farm rubber and rice. 'The situation remains highly tense, and it is anticipated that Cambodia may be preparing for a major military operation prior to entering negotiations,' the Thai military statement read. Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn marked his 73rd birthday on Monday, but a notice in the country's Royal Gazette said his public celebrations scheduled for Bangkok's Grand Palace had been cancelled amid the strife. Trump has threatened both countries with high levies in his global tariff blitz unless they agree to independent trade deals – but said he would 'look forward' to signing them once 'peace is at hand'. Each side had already agreed to a truce in principle, while accusing the other of undermining peace efforts and trading allegations about the use of cluster bombs and targeting of hospitals. Nationalist sentiment Thailand says nine of its soldiers and 14 civilians have been killed, while Cambodia has confirmed eight civilian and five military deaths. The Thai military said it had returned the bodies of 12 Cambodian soldiers killed in combat. More than 138,000 people have fled Thailand's border regions, while around 140,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia. With the skirmish enflaming nationalist sentiments, Thailand warned its citizens to 'refrain from any kind of violence, whether in speech or action' against Cambodian migrants living in the country.
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
UNRWA official says Gaza aid not enough, calls for expanded access
A displaced Palestinian child sits next to a pot of lentil soup that he received at a food distribution point in Gaza City. [Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP] Listen to article Israel's recent steps to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza are not sufficient to reverse severe shortages, Gaza acting director of UNRWA affairs Sam Rose said. Rose added that while 'we very much welcome these initial steps to increase the flow of aid,' he said it is 'not enough'. 'First of all, you [Israel] limit the supply of aid coming in, or you completely block it. Second, you criticise the organisations whose job it is to provide that aid, the UN organisations — whose job, of course, is made far more difficult by the controls that Israel imposes,' he said. 'And then the next stage of this is to frame humanitarian aid itself as part of the problem,' he continued. 'And that's the dynamic we've been facing over the past few weeks in which countless children have died of malnutrition.' 'This has clearly been part of an approach of manufactured starvation over several months,' Rose told Al Jazeera. UNRWA welcomes statements of humanitarian pauses and announcements that restrictions on bringing in humanitarian aid to #Gaza might be eased. We hope that UNRWA will be finally allowed to bring in thousands of trucks loaded with food, medicine and hygiene supplies. They are… — UNRWA (@UNRWA) July 27, 2025 Meanwhile, airdropped humanitarian aid into northern Gaza has sparked public frustration. Jordan and the UAE deployed three missions on Sunday, parachuting approximately 25 tonnes of supplies into the Beit Lahiya area. However, many residents say the aid never reached them. According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, the combined contents of the three airdrops amounted to just two truckloads. Much of the cargo reportedly landed inside Israeli militarised zones, inaccessible to civilians. Read: Trump, Starmer to hold talks on trade, Gaza starvation The same office said Gaza needs 250,000 cans of baby formula and 600 trucks of aid per month to meet minimum survival standards. In a statement released on Telegram, it described the humanitarian situation as dire and called for a 'radical and urgent solution', demanding the unconditional lifting of Israel's blockade and immediate opening of all crossings into the territory. Photos: Aid trucks wait at Rafah crossing in Egypt Trucks carrying aid line up near the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt on July 28, 2025. — Reuters Truck carrying aid lines up near the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt on July 28, 2025. — Reuters Trucks carrying aid line up near the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt on July 28, 2025. — Reuters Trucks carrying aid line up near the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt on July 28, 2025. — Reuters Mass starvation Despite recent claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that there is 'no starvation' in Gaza, humanitarian agencies continue to raise alarms. In Gaza City, a baby named Muhammad Ibrahim Adas has died from severe malnutrition and the lack of baby formula, a medical source at Al-Shifa Hospital told Al Jazeera. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that nearly one in five children under five in Gaza City is now acutely malnourished, making it the worst-hit area in the besieged enclave. Malnutrition is on a dangerous trajectory in the Gaza Strip, marked by a spike in deaths in July. Of 74 malnutrition-related deaths in 2025, 63 occurred in July—including 24 children under five, a child over five, and 38 adults. Most of these people were declared dead on arrival… — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 27, 2025 Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of appreciation for recent US humanitarian donations to Gaza. 'We gave $60 million two weeks ago for food for Gaza, and nobody acknowledged it,' Trump said at a press conference. 'No other country gave anything... nobody gave but us.' Trump appeared to be referring to US contributions to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a body backed by the US and Israel. The GHF has faced criticism from humanitarian groups for inadequate aid delivery and unsafe conditions at distribution sites. Since the GHF began operations in May, Israeli forces have reportedly killed more than 1,000 Palestinians attempting to access food near aid distribution points. Today's death toll Meanwhile, at least 41 Palestinians have been killed across Gaza by Israeli attacks since dawn, including eight civilians struck while waiting for food aid, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. The continuing bombardment coincides with the detention of 21 activists from the Handala aid ship by Israeli authorities, 17 of whom have now been seen by lawyers. The Handala, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's civil mission to break the naval blockade on Gaza, was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters last week. Israel has since accused the group of illegally entering the country. Legal rights group Adalah, which has met with most of the detainees, described their condition as 'relatively stable'. In a statement on social media, the Flotilla group said detainees were being pressured to accept 'voluntary deportation' or face indefinite detention and legal proceedings before a tribunal. 'Handala' was illegally boarded by Israel military in international waters, around 40 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. Before interception the 21 crew made this statement: if attacked they will join the global hunger strike for Gaza. Call your governments now and hold them… — Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) July 27, 2025 Israel's war on Gaza The Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing nearly 60,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
