Malaysian Prime Minister: We Stand with Hamas in Its Struggle Against Occupation

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has affirmed that his country will continue to defend Hamas’s rights as a movement fighting for the liberation of Palestine. He noted that Malaysia will collaborate with all groups, including the Palestinian Authority.

This statement was made during a speech delivered by the Prime Minister at a mass rally on the evening of Sunday, August 4, 2024. The event, organized by the Malaysian government and civil society organizations, coincided with the International Day of Support for Gaza and prisoners in occupation jails.

In his address to tens of thousands of Malaysians, as well as foreign ministers and ambassadors who attended the rally, Anwar highlighted the similarities between the Palestinian struggle and the Malaysian struggle.

He continued, “We do not bow to Western perspectives or any country that seeks to dictate whom we should support. While we engage with all parties, including the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas, we stand with Hamas in the Palestinian struggle and work towards the liberation of Gaza.” He emphasized that Malaysia will not waver “in supporting Palestinian liberation.”

Anwar urged the Malaysian people to never stop speaking about Palestine and to continue providing assistance and making efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.

He said, “I want Malaysia to be remembered in history as one of the most steadfast and serious countries in the struggle for the Palestinian people.”

The attendees donned Palestinian keffiyehs, waved Palestinian flags, and held banners rejecting genocide and the execution of prisoners, calling for an immediate halt to the aggression on Gaza.

It is worth noting that Malaysia strongly condemned the assassination of Hamas’s political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last Wednesday morning.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended its heartfelt condolences to the leadership and people of Palestine, expressing strong condemnation of Haniyeh’s assassination.

Malaysia reaffirmed its solidarity with the Palestinian people and stressed the need for a thorough investigation into the assassination.

Haniyeh’s assassination occurred at a time when Israel, with American support, has been waging a war on Gaza since October 7, resulting in over 130,000 Palestinian casualties, mostly children and women, and more than 10,000 missing persons.