KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced that he would discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict with other world leaders in his visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday (Oct 19).
Anwar said urgent actions must be expedited to end Israel's illegal occupation following the West's hypocritical acts towards the conflict.
"I will depart for Riyadh on Thursday (Oct 19) for the Asean- Gulf Cooperation Council Summit and the Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman contacted me to extend my visit until Saturday (Oct 21) so that official discussion can take place there (in Saudi Arabia).
"Following this, I will also have discussions with other counterparts such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye (to discuss the conflict).
"As the Western and European countries feel so strongly about the Russia-Ukraine conflict but are biased towards Palestine, urgent action must be expedited (to end the conflict)," he said in the Dewan Rakyat, today.
He said in every meeting (with western countries), they wanted to know if Malaysia would condemn Hamas.
"I told them that Malaysia has a long-standing relationship with Hamas. As such, we cannot agree with them as Hamas won the elections and the people of Gaza chose them (to lead)."
Anwar said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir will depart for Jeddah tonight, following the invitation from the crown prince and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for the session.
Anwar also said that it is time for Malaysia to do whatever is necessary to resolve the injustice that is happening to the Palestinians, as a result of the war with Israel.
"The discussions with the representatives of the countries involved have shown that there is an overflowing anxiety and 'jalan buntu' (dead end) as Israel receives full support from the United States and Europe."
He said the situation in Palestine is a politics of dispossession; "Our position is clear. Politics in Palestine is politics of dispossession, their property has been confiscated.
"The rights of the Palestinians of their homeland must be restored."
He said if there is no stern action taken to address the situation, it would become a genocide.
"We were asked if we agree with such action of hurting women and children and our stance is clear; it doesn't matter who it is, we do not agree with any action hurting the innocent.
"With what is happening in Gaza and if the world is unable to do anything, it means that the world is allowing the killing of Palestinians."
Anwar added he had also contacted several country leaders to ensure firmer and tougher measures be taken to stop the blockade on Gaza and Israel's harsh orders that force the people of Gaza to leave their homeland."
He said humanitarian aid to Gaza must be sped up to assist the Palestinians, especially those who were injured, along with having no access to clean drinking water.
"I have announced RM10 million in aid (during the tabling of 2024 Budget) and Insha Allah, RM100 million (including GLCs contribution), will be channelled specifically to Gaza for humanitarian and medical funds."
Meanwhile, Anwar has denied claims that the government is unwilling to send its troops to Gaza.
"There were claims by certain quarters saying that we refused to send our troops.
"The armed forces leadership asked me to convey that it is unfair for any group, in the delivery of their 'tazkirah' (on the Israel-Palestine conflict) to allude to this (the government refusing to send its troops).
"It is not an easy decision to send troops, including peacekeepers. To do so, the humanitarian corridor must be agreed upon by neighbouring countries, otherwise, our planes cannot land.