PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire after an Israeli airstrike in the besieged Gaza Strip struck a hospital, killing hundreds of victims.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim condemned the attack made by Israel, and described the recent attack as 'madness' and going overboard.
"That is why we are calling for an immediate ceasefire to calm the situation down.
"If this continues to persist, the victims will be mothers, children, and patients, and this has reached a level of madness and without humanity," he told reporters after attending a programme at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) on Wednesday.
More than 500 people were killed in the Israeli airstrike on the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital late Tuesday (Sept 17), Palestinian Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra told news agency Anadolu.
Footage showed bodies scattered across the hospital grounds.
The airstrike came on the eleventh day in the conflict, with a growing international chorus of non-governmental groups and world leaders saying the Israeli bombing campaign on the besieged enclave - including health care facilities, homes and houses of worship - violates international law, and may constitute war crimes.
Anwar also hit out at the Western countries for their hypocrisy in their stance involving the situation in Palestine.
"And the most regrettable thing is, the Western countries that often talk about human rights, actually are interpreting human rights in two different categories.
"There are some in the 'Class 1' category while others are categorised as 'slaves'," added Anwar.
The Prime Minister added that he would be heading to Riyadh on Thursday (Oct 19) to attend the Asean and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and is expected to discuss with other world leaders on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Asked about the status of Malaysian troops who are serving as peacekeepers under the United Nations (UN) in Lebanon, Anwar said that any decisions to withdraw or remain will be made together including with the United Nations.
"If the safety situation can be guaranteed, we will continue, but if it can't we will bring them back," said Anwar.
Tension is also flaring on Israel's border with Lebanon, creating worries that the war could spread.
On Monday, Israel’s military and its defence ministry said it would evacuate 28 communities that are within 2km of the Lebanese border.
The border has been a longtime staging ground for attacks by Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group that has fought wars with Israel in the past.
