Dr. Belal Alakhras is a Research Fellow at the Hashim Sani Centre, University of Malaya. His research spans settler colonial studies, conflict resolution, foreign policy, and Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian politics. His academic experience includes serving as a Lecturer in International Relations at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). He has developed curricula and specialized training courses, including Diplomatic Language, The Making of the Contemporary Middle East, and Artificial Intelligence and the Reshaping of International Relations. Dr. Alakhras earned his PhD in Political Science from UM, a Master’s from IIUM, and a bachelor’s from the Islamic University of Gaza. He is an Associate Member of the Arab Council for the Social Sciences and collaborates with research centres in Malaysia and Türkiye. He has held several administrative and leadership positions and contributes as a consultant and a political commentator on regional and international affairs.