25-10-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stood alongside 16,000 pro-Palestinian supporters in Kuala Lumpur to denounce Israel’s “barbaric” acts in the Gaza Strip, where thousands of lives have been lost due to Israeli attacks, and to criticize its Western backers.
The gathering in Malaysia’s capital was the largest in a series of demonstrations held in the predominantly Muslim country in recent weeks.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 700 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes overnight, marking the highest 24-hour death toll since the Israeli bombing campaign began to suppress Hamas militants following a deadly attack by the group on October 7.
Since October 7, the health ministry estimates that at least 5,791 Palestinians have lost their lives in the strikes. Malaysia, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, has consistently called for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
Addressing the crowd gathered at an indoor stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar Ibrahim described the situation as “insanity” and condemned the killing of civilians, the destruction of hospitals, and the bombing of schools, labeling it the epitome of barbarism in today’s world.
“We stand with the Palestinian people yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” Anwar declared, expressing his concern that support from the United States and Europe was bolstering Israel’s position.
Anwar had previously rejected Western pressure to condemn Hamas, holding discussions with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh earlier this month and calling for an immediate end to the bombardment in Gaza, as well as the establishment of a humanitarian corridor.
On Tuesday, UN agencies made a desperate plea for unhindered aid access to Gaza, stating that deliveries needed to be increased more than 20 times to address the dire situation caused by two weeks of Israeli air strikes.
Amidst chants of “long live Palestine” and “down with Israel,” the demonstrators in Kuala Lumpur carried Palestinian flags and banners, expressing their solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Nurul Anis Syafiqah Muhammad, a 20-year-old student who attended the gathering, highlighted the importance of protesting against Israeli actions, emphasizing that it was not just a matter of religion but a call for humanity. “As humans, we must be compassionate towards each other,” she stated.
