Malaysia standing strong as pressure mounts to denounce Hamas; PM

Anwar Ibrahim

17 October 2023; MEMO: The head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, received a phone call from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who expressed “Malaysia’s support and solidarity with the Palestinian people and with Gaza in the battle of Al-Aqsa flood.”

The Hamas movement said in a press statement yesterday that Ibrahim stressed that Malaysia refuses to respond to the pressure the West is putting on it to push it to condemn Hamas.

Ibrahim said that he is making contacts and taking steps with parties in the region and beyond to contribute to stopping the attacks on Hamas and the Palestinian people and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip.

Haniyeh praised “the Malaysian position and its complete refusal to respond to the US or other pressures by condemning Hamas and the resistance.” He also praised Malaysian efforts to stop the attacks and bring aid into Gaza.

The Hamas leader stressed during the call that the Palestinian people want to regain their right to freedom and dignity and the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with international resolutions.