PM slams hypocrisy over Gaza violence

Anwar calls for end to the “insanity” and crisis on Palestinian land

KUALA LUMPUR: The world must wake up and see the stark hypocrisy with the situations unfolding in Gaza, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said there is too much contradiction and hypocrisy in international politics, and this must stop.

“I would say that a good student of history and geopolitics wouldn’t be necessarily surprised. You talk about human rights at one end and you deny (these) rights to others.

ALSO READ: Seeking freedom for Palestine

“For example, you condemn Russia for aggression because of its decision to (invade) Ukraine.

“But with the Israeli aggression and taking over of legitimate Palestinian land, that is condoned – not only that, it is supported and defended,” he said in an interview with Arab News last Friday on the sidelines of the inaugural Asean-GCC Summit in Riyadh, reported Bernama.

Describing the situation in Gaza as “insanity”, Anwar said Malaysia remains steadfast with its stand that the aggression towards women and children in Gaza must be stopped.

“I cannot understand why Israelis don’t realise that what was a Holocaust episode in the past is now being imposed on others,” he said.

Warm welcome: Anwar being greeted upon his arrival in Istanbul, Turkiye. — Photo taken from Anwar’s Facebook account

Commenting on the opening remarks by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at the summit, Anwar said Malaysia was fully behind the efforts of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to bring the crisis to a close and prevent the outbreak of a wider war.

In a separate interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Anwar urged the international community to do everything in their power to guarantee peace in the Gaza Strip since thousands of innocent lives have been lost due to the attacks by Israel.

“We took a very strong position together with our brothers, friends, allies and neighbours. These heinous acts must end. The international community must do everything in its power to guarantee peace.

“And I mean peace for all (...) but Gaza is now under siege and people are struggling to live. There is no water, no electricity, no food and no medicine. The situation is truly tragic,” he added.

In ISTANBUL, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said Anwar’s hour-long meeting with Turkyish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek yesterday touched on various matters, including economic cooperation, tourism, investment and defence.

He said Anwar and Mehmet had exchanged views on current economic issues and discussed the need for financial structural reforms.

“Secondly, they looked at how bilateral trade relations could be enhanced more actively, covering various fields including the tourism sector, which is a very significant sector for both countries,” he said.

Zambry, who was met after Anwar’s meeting with Mehmet at the Prime Minister’s residence hotel, said the discussions on tourism looked into how both countries could provide investments related to the sector.

Anwar is currently in Istanbul for a two-day working visit to Turkiye and is expected to have a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later before departing for his next working visit to Egypt.