PETALING JAYA: Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has rubbished claims by Israel of Malaysia being a training ground for Hamas fighters in Palestine.
He said Malaysia supported the Palestinian struggle from a moral and humanitarian standpoint and enjoyed diplomatic relations with the embattled nation’s leaders, a fact that may have irked Israel.
“To date, we enjoy a diplomatic, trade and cultural relationship with the state of Palestine and are strong supporters of the humanitarian struggle there.
“The Israeli security agency, Shin Bet, is merely attempting to devise a propaganda to tarnish Malaysia’s image with baseless accusations,” he said in a statement Friday.
He challenged the Israeli authorities to provide proof of the allegations, which surfaced following the international community’s condemnation of the atrocities committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza.
Israeli daily, The Jerusalem Post, quoted a Shin Bet official as saying that Hamas members had trained in Malaysia in preparation for the offensive against the Israel Defence Force (IDF).
The security agency claimed Malaysia’s involvement was disclosed by a Hamas cell commander they had captured in the city of Khan Yunis on July 21.
However, the report is vague on details as to why Malaysia was chosen as a training ground and who provided the training.
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