JASIN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has rebuked certain quarters for their excessive criticism regarding the Gaza peace plan proposed by United States President Donald Trump.
Anwar said this included criticisms of the US’s involvement in the negotiations, which he described as unhelpful to resolving the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
The Prime Minister said he had spoken with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Saturday (Oct 18) to express Malaysia’s appreciation for Egypt’s commitment, along with other Arab nations, including Türkiye, in pushing to stop Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
"My concern was that the West Bank might come under attack again, and El-Sisi said that is why Muslim countries must continue to act as one team. Although we do not agree with all 20 points in the peace plan, I also listened to other views, including from Hamas, which is negotiating with Israel.
"Sometimes we act as if we know better, while Hamas is fighting on the ground and thousands have died... yet we say, ‘don’t negotiate, don’t talk to America’,” he said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the Melaka Madani Rakyat Programme (PMR) 2025 here on Sunday (Oct 19).
Anwar said El-Sisi also agreed to raise issues highlighted by Malaysia, which were not included in Trump’s 20-point peace proposal, during a conference scheduled for November.
"I also requested that Malaysian volunteers be allowed to enter Gaza to provide aid, and he (El-Sisi) gave his assurance,” he added.
The peace plan negotiations saw Egypt hosting an international peace summit at the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, co-chaired by El-Sisi and Trump.
Trump previously announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of the Gaza peace plan he unveiled on Sept 29, which included a ceasefire, the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian detainees and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip.
The plan also calls for the establishment of a new governing mechanism in Gaza without Hamas’ participation, the formation of a security force comprising Palestinians and troops from Arab and Islamic countries, and the disarmament of Hamas.
Anwar said he had also contacted Afghanistan’s Acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last night to express Malaysia’s concern over the escalating tensions between the two countries.
"Some members of Parliament mocked me for making these calls, but they don’t realise that through such communication, we have helped ease conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand.
"In fact, the Emir of Qatar requested that Malaysia support peace efforts by bringing together the defence ministers from Pakistan and Afghanistan to Doha. Since we have good ties with both nations, we were asked to encourage them to seek peace, and talks are now ongoing in Doha,” he said. – Bernama
