PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, expressing deep sadness and anger.
The former prime minister described the slain Hamas leader as a soft-spoken but lion-hearted man who fought endlessly to free Palestine.
“He was an impressive man whose courage to stand up for his people obviously stemmed from a clear conscience and was guided by a moral compass based on humanity and religious conviction.
"Palestinians and the rest of the conscientious world have lost a great man, a leader and liberator," he said on Facebook on Thursday (Aug 1).
Dr Mahathir said he was lucky and proud to have met Ismail Haniyeh in the past.
Dr Mahathir also criticised Israel, alleging their fear and hatred led to Ismail Haniyeh's targeted "elimination".
The Hamas leader, a key negotiator for Gaza's ceasefire, died soon after a high-profile political event which Hamas attributes to an Israeli assassination.
"They may have killed Haniyeh but not his ideas and what he stood for," said Dr Mahathir, insisting the fight for Palestinian liberation continues.
