Malaysian PM condemns West’s ‘sheer hypocrisy’ over Gaza war

1 Malaysia condemns ‘sheer hypocrisy’ of the West
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Updated 06 May 2024
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Malaysian PM condemns West’s ‘sheer hypocrisy’ over Gaza war

  • Anwar Ibrahim spoke on a wide range of topics in interview during recent visit to Riyadh
  • He pointed out Malaysia had “issued statements to demand that the Gaza genocide must end”

DUBAI: Malaysia takes a strong stance on the war in Gaza and condemns the “sheer hypocrisy” of Western countries over the ongoing Israeli killing of Palestinian women and children, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said.

Speaking to Katie Jensen, host of the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” during a visit to Riyadh for a special meeting of the World Economic Forum last week, he said that a failure to prevent genocide in Gaza could foster extremism.

“We have issued statements to suggest that their genocide must end,” Anwar said in an interview that can be read in full on page 3.

“And it’s sheer hypocrisy for countries, some countries in the West, including the United States, to deny these continued killings of children and women and civilians.

“Whatever your political position is, I don’t believe that in this period we can condone these sort of inhuman, barbaric acts against fellow human beings. And I think that position is clear. Our position is very strong in that direction.




Anwar Ibrahim was speaking to Katie Jensen, host of the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” during a visit to Riyadh for a special meeting of the World Economic Forum last week. (AN Photo)

“I know for an emerging, developing country, it may sound a bit too harsh, but then how do you condone continued killings of women and children? There’s no other way except to at least express in the very strongest terms possible.

“I appreciate the role of the Arab neighbors and Turkiye and Iran and all these other countries trying to do their part. And I think we in Malaysia and many other countries outside the region, too, are expressing gross concern because people are feeling enraged.

“And we don’t want this to prolong, because it will only lead to groups to foster fanatical extremist or terrorist action in the absence of the failure of the international community.”

According to recent reports, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court may soon issue warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of deliberately starving Palestinians in Gaza.




Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim said he would support calls for the arrest of Israeli ministers, in reaction to reports that the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court may soon issue warrants for the arrest of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes in Gaza. (POOL/AFP/File)

If the ICC rules that genocide is taking place in Gaza, Anwar said he would support calls for the arrest of the Israeli ministers.

“I don’t believe that any reasonable person could dispute the incontrovertible effects adduced to support their allegation that genocide has been committed,” he said. “Once it is established that genocide happened, then of course the warrants have to be issued.”

In Kuala Lumpur, a trial is currently taking place after an Israeli national was arrested on March 28 suspected of entering Malaysia to assassinate a compatriot. He was found in possession of six guns and some 200 rounds of ammunition.

The case has raised speculation as to whether the man, named by local authorities as Shalom Avitan, was in fact a spy.

Asked whether any proof had been found connecting the Israeli national to espionage or organized crime, Anwar said investigations were ongoing.




An Israeli man identified as Shalom Avitan (C) is escorted by Malaysian police upon his arrival at a court to face charges of possessing six handguns and 200 bullets in Kuala Lumpur on April 12, 2024. (AFP/File)

“They have not established the fact that whether this criminal is a spy, but certainly the actions, the movements, the amount of weapons and the link networking within the country is of course concerning,” he said.

“And the authorities are taking tough measures to make sure they get to the bottom of it.”

On whether an independent Palestinian state is likely to come to fruition this year from the ashes of the Gaza war, Anwar said no country — including the US — has the right to deny the resounding global support for Palestinian statehood.

“There are 139 countries that have given recognition to the state of Palestine,” he said. “Now, why must one or two countries consider them above all these considerations and refuse to accept this?

“And to my mind, it is dishonorable to deny the right, not only of Palestinians but of the international community when they decide after years or decades of deliberations, looking at the facts, looking at historical decisions, looking at the precarious position now on the issue of security of the region, issue of economic progress.

“After all these considerations, 139 say, yes, we must recognize the existence of the state of Palestine. I don’t believe any country has the right to deny the sentiments, aspirations of the world.”

 


Israel changing ‘the world’ with Iran war: Netanyahu

Updated 7 sec ago
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Israel changing ‘the world’ with Iran war: Netanyahu

  • The Israeli prime minister welcomed ‘all help‘ in destroying the Islamic republic’s nuclear sites, in an apparent nod to the US

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel was “changing the face of the world” in its war with Iran, as he welcomed “all help” in destroying the Islamic republic’s nuclear sites.
“I said that we’re changing the face of the Middle East, and now I say we’re changing the face of the world,” he told public broadcaster Kansas
Seven days into the war, Netanyahu said Israeli forces were ahead of schedule in their offensive against Iranian nuclear and missile sites, but refused to provide a clear timeline for an end to the most intense confrontation in history with arch foe Tehran.
“We are at war. I’m not going to reveal our timeline. I’m not going to tell them (the Iranians) what we’re preparing,” said Netanyahu.
“When you enter a war, you know when it begins, but not when it ends,” he added.
He said Israel had already destroyed “more than half” of Iran’s missile launchers and was “capable of striking all of Iran’s nuclear facilities.”
But, in an apparent nod to key ally the United States, Netanyahu added: “All help is welcome.”
During his interview with Kan, Netanyahu went on to say that US President Donald Trump “will do what is good for for the United States, and I will do what is good for the State of Israel.”
Following the remarks, Trump offered a fresh timeline for a possible US intervention in the conflict, saying in a statement that he would decide whether to attack Iran within the next two weeks due to a “substantial” chance of negotiations.


Ukrainian in Israel to treat sick daughter killed in Iran strike: mayor

Updated 44 min 14 sec ago
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Ukrainian in Israel to treat sick daughter killed in Iran strike: mayor

  • The city of Bat Yam identified the victim as Maria Peshkarova, 31
  • Peshkarova had traveled to Israel in 2022 on a medical visa to seek life-saving treatment for her daughter, 8

JERUSALEM: The body of a Ukrainian mother who had traveled to Israel for her daughter’s leukemia treatment was recovered on Thursday from a building struck by an Iranian missile four days earlier, Israeli officials said.

The city of Bat Yam, close to Tel Aviv, announced that “in the past few minutes, a body was found at the site of the missile impact,” identifying the victim as Maria Peshkarova, 31, also known as Marina.

Peshkarova had traveled to Israel in December 2022 on a medical visa to seek life-saving treatment for her daughter Anastasia, 8, who was killed along with her grandmother in the destroyed apartment bloc in Bat Yam, according to the mayor’s office.

Peshkarova’s husband is fighting in Ukraine’s war against Russia, according to the Israeli news website Ynet.

Israeli authorities had previously released the names of eight people killed in the strike and had stated that one person was missing.

Peshkarova’s confirmed death takes the total deathtoll in Israel to 25 since the war with Iran started on Friday, according to authorities.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Sunday that five of its nationals were killed in the Iranian strike on Bat Yam near Tel Aviv, including three minors.

Ukraine on Tuesday urged its citizens to leave Israel and Iran as soon as possible amid the spiralling conflict between the two countries.


Israel restarts limited gas exports amid ongoing conflict, Egypt still waiting

Updated 19 June 2025
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Israel restarts limited gas exports amid ongoing conflict, Egypt still waiting

  • A ministry spokesperson said exports are now resuming “from surpluses, after domestic needs are met“
  • An energy ministry source said most of the limited exported gas is currently flowing to Jordan

CAIRO: Israel has resumed limited natural gas exports from surplus supplies, the country’s Energy Ministry said on Thursday, nearly a week after shutting down two key offshore fields as Israel and Iran waged an air battle.

A ministry spokesperson told Reuters that exports are now resuming “from surpluses, after domestic needs are met.”

An energy ministry source said most of the limited exported gas is currently flowing to Jordan, and only “tiny volumes” reached Egypt this week.

Egyptian fertilizer producers, who were forced to halt operations due to the supply disruption, told Reuters they have yet to receive any gas but expect flows to resume next week.

The Egyptian Petroleum Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Following military escalation in the region, Israel halted exports on June 13 after closing the Leviathan field, operated by Chevron and the Karish field operated by Energean. Only the Tamar field has remained operational, supplying mainly domestic demand.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said on Wednesday that exports would only resume once military authorities deemed it safe.

“I don’t want to use our strategic storage, so therefore, I needed to cut exports,” he told Reuters.

Egypt, which has increasingly relied on Israeli gas since a domestic production decline in 2022, is scrambling to compensate for the supply gap.

The country has ramped up fuel oil use in power plants and has signed deals to import over $8 billion worth of liquefied natural gas, while preparing additional floating regasification units.

Israeli gas typically accounts for up to 60 percent of Egypt’s total gas imports and around a fifth of its total consumption, according to data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI).


Aoun seeks US support to stabilize security in southern Lebanon

Updated 8 min 49 sec ago
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Aoun seeks US support to stabilize security in southern Lebanon

  • Lebanese leader announces dramatic increase in troop deployment south of the Litani River
  • Hezbollah warns that threats to kill Khamenei risk severe consequences

BEIRUT: In an attempt to restore peace in southern Lebanon, President Joseph Aoun outlined key priorities during talks with Thomas Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkiye and special envoy to Syria.

Aoun said his country needs US support to restore security and stability in the region.

He called for Israeli forces to withdraw from the five hills they occupy and urged an end to hostile actions.

Aoun also emphasized the need to extend UNIFIL’s mandate, which operates in coordination with the Lebanese army to implement UN Resolution 1701 and aims to deploy along Lebanon’s internationally recognized border.

Aoun revealed plans to bolster Lebanon’s military presence in the south.

He announced that Lebanon will increase its army troops south of the Litani River to 10,000 soldiers.

Aoun said these units are working to implement UN Resolution 1701 fully, removing visible weapons, confiscating arms and ammunition, and ensuring only official security forces are armed.

But, he said, Israel’s occupation of the five hills and surrounding areas was hindering the army’s efforts.

The Lebanese president reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to uphold the principle of exclusive state control over weapons.

Aoun told Barrack that discussions were ongoing at both the Lebanese and Palestinian levels regarding the issue of Palestinian refugees’ weapons in the camps.

He expressed hope that the talks would intensify once the regional situation, recently disrupted by the escalating Israeli-Iranian conflict, stabilizes.

A source from the presidency told Arab News that Lebanon planned to move weapons north of the Litani River, but that the process would take time.

After Lebanon’s civil war, the source said Hezbollah gradually handed over its weapons to the government — a process that took considerable time to complete.

A source said that Barrack — temporarily handling Lebanese matters until a successor to former US envoy Morgan Ortagus is named — showed understanding and a positive attitude toward Lebanon’s position during meetings with political officials about the disarmament process.

Although no prompt response followed Barrack’s alert about the possibility of Hezbollah supporting Iran, the group released a statement on Thursday denouncing US threats against Ali Khamenei.

Hezbollah warned: “Threatening to kill him is not only a political folly, but a recklessness that will have dangerous repercussions.”

Hezbollah emphasized that “today, we stand more determined than ever to adhere to Imam Khamenei’s path and firm positions in confronting, along with the Islamic Republic, the Israeli-US aggression. Through its blind support for Israel, the US is marching toward an abyss from which it will not survive.”

Also on Thursday, the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon received a large delegation of Lebanese parties, forces, and figures allied with Hezbollah, and a coalition of Palestinian forces and factions close to the party, who came to “declare their solidarity with Iran against the Israeli aggression.”

Tawfiq Samadi, the charge d’affaires at the embassy, said that “any military action taken by Iran will be limited, targeted, gradual and proportionate to the threat.”

He said he “held the US responsible for its full support of Israel in its crimes against Iran. While it is not yet a direct party to the aggressions, continued US support for the actions of the Israeli entity will carry strategic and legal consequences.”


Iran arrests dissident rapper formerly on death row: supporters

Updated 19 June 2025
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Iran arrests dissident rapper formerly on death row: supporters

  • The reported arrest of Salehi comes amid the nearly week-old war triggered by Israeli
  • Salehi, 34, has bitterly criticized Israel’s strikes on his country as well as the failure of Iranian authorities to protect citizens

PARIS: Iranian authorities have arrested Toomaj Salehi, a prominent rapper who is sharply critical of the Islamic republic’s leadership, the artist’s supporters said on his social media accounts on Thursday.

The reported arrest of Salehi, who is known to fans as Toomaj and had previously been sentenced to death in the wake of nationwide protests, comes amid the nearly week-old war triggered by Israeli attacks on Iran and as rights groups have warned of a crackdown on dissent by Tehran.

Salehi, 34, has bitterly criticized Israel’s strikes on his country as well as the failure of Iranian authorities to protect citizens in the face of the bombardment which began on Friday.

According to a statement published by supporters of Salehi on his official Instagram and X accounts, he had been arrested in the Gulf island of Kish, on Iran’s southern coast.

“We have no information about the detaining agency, his place of detention, or his health. The government is directly responsible for anything that happens to his health and life,” it said.

“Toomaj must be released immediately.”

Rights groups have sounded the alarm on a crackdown in Iran against the background of the Israeli attacks which analysts believe could be aimed at ousting the country’s clerical leadership.

Amnesty International said on Wednesday that “Iranian authorities have responded to Israel’s latest military attacks by imposing Internet restrictions, arresting journalists and dissidents within the country.”

Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights said on Thursday that at least 223 people have been arrested nationwide on charges related to collaboration with Israel.

The group said its tally is based on official media reports, but the real figures are likely higher.

Internet monitor Netblocks said that Iran was under its most severe “blackout incident” since a 2019 wave of protests.

Salehi was previously arrested in October 2022 after publicly backing demonstrations that erupted a month earlier, triggered by the death in custody of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini.

He was initially sentenced to death in a verdict that caused international uproar but it was later reduced to prison time and he was released in December 2024.

Activists have accused Iran of torturing him during his 2022 arrest, after state media published a video purporting to show the rapper blindfolded, with bruising on his face, apologizing for his support of the protests.