KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defended his recent engagements with the political wing of Palestinian group Hamas following inquiries from United States authorities.
Speaking during a televised interview with Al-Jazeera released today, Anwar stressed that his meeting with Hamas officials, including leader Ismail Haniyeh and former chairman Khaled Mashal, earlier this week was a purely “diplomatic and political” session.
“They (the US) can inquire, (and) they did raise the issue of my engagement with Hamas, but they should know what transpired.
“I called upon these organisations, including Hamas, to try and accommodate as well as support the resolution and call (from) Arab neighbours to secure a peaceful resolution and settlement,” Anwar said.
When asked by Al-Jazeera presenter Sami Zeidan if the United States is pressuring Malaysia to alter its pro-Palestine stance, Anwar suggested that there might have been indirect hints.
“Well, probably obliquely. But, because we maintain good relations with the US, we continue to do so. Someone has to engage with Hamas, whether you like it or not, as they do represent some portion of the Palestinians in Gaza.”
Anwar added that while he does not intend to “defend excesses” by any party, he questioned the “hypocrisy” of condemning Hamas while remaining silent on the decades-long suffering of the Palestinian people.
“It is of benefit, as the Qataris have done, to secure the release of hostages through contact and engagement. You don’t need to agree with everything they do, but I think a principled stance would help,” he added.
The prime minister’s comments come in response to objections against world leaders engaging with Hamas, which is categorised as a terrorist organisation by Western nations, though international human rights groups have also criticised Hamas for its actions against Israeli civilians.
Anwar had previously said that while his meeting with top Hamas leaders could cause anxiety among Malaysia’s Western friends, Malaysia remains an independent country supporting peace efforts in the Gaza Strip.
In March, Anwar also reaffirmed Malaysia’s diplomatic relations with Hamas’ political wing while stressing the importance of recognising the group as a legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Anwar also called on the US to implement necessary action, including halting the supply of weapons to Israel, in order to stop the ongoing conflict in Palestine.
“They (the US) should do whatever is necessary to stop the hostilities, and this includes not only (supplying) weapons but also having the influence, mechanism, and diplomatic skills (to end the conflict).
“It’s impossible to imagine that one man (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) can dictate the affairs of the world,” Anwar said, adding that he is in “no position to deny” claims that the US is complicit in war crimes perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinians.
The facts, Anwar said, are evident to support such claims, asserting that such atrocities should not be condoned even when the perpetrators are an “ally, friend, or a nation that has an axis with you”.
“Otherwise, you have no moral stature or standing in the world to talk about international relations, humanity, or even order and human rights,” he added. – May 19, 2024