Malaysia's former prime minister says Europe is complicit in the humanitarian crisis, calling their human rights claims hypocritical
Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has condemned Europe for backing Israel's "genocide" in Gaza, arguing its claims of upholding human rights ring increasingly hollow as the year-old conflict rages on.
In a passionate social media post, the 99-year-old politician expressed his horror at the devastation he was witnessing on Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera.
"Thousands of Palestinians have been killed. Many thousands more wounded. Thousands have lost their legs and arms," he wrote on Tuesday, highlighting the catastrophic toll of the ongoing conflict, which he described as "horrible".
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Mahathir painted a grim picture of Gaza, where entire cities have been reduced to rubble and even refugee camps are not spared from bombardment.
"I have never seen such atrocities as being inflicted in our so-called civilised world. It is mind boggling. It lacks any sign of human feelings," he said.
The war began last year, following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, which claimed 1,206 lives. In retaliation, Israel's bombardment of Gaza has led to the deaths of 43,391 people, mostly women and children, according to the enclave's health ministry.
The United Nations warned last week of an impending catastrophe, stating that the entire population of northern Gaza was at "imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence".
Mahathir criticised other broadcast media outlets for their inadequate coverage of the crisis, saying that they presented "almost nothing of the genocide ... as if it is not happening".
He suggested that many in the West, particularly white Europeans and Americans, are unaware of the suffering in Gaza, believing instead that Israeli attacks are justified as measures for national security.
"They must believe that nothing is happening to the people of Gaza," he said. "And they support the Israeli war against the Palestinians."
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗬𝗣𝗢𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗦 1. I watch Al Jazeera TV on the genocide by the Israelis on the Palestinian people of Gaza. It is horrible. 2. Thousands of Palestinians have been killed. Many thousands more wounded. Thousands have lost their legs and arms. 3. The cities and towns in Gaza have been razed to the ground. Even refugee camps of flimsy tents have been rocketed and bombed. The refugees were killed. The survivors flee. But there is no safe place for them. 4. I have never seen such atrocities as being inflicted in our so-called civilised world. It is mind boggling. It lacks any sign of human feelings.
5. What is outrageous is that the other TV channels show almost nothing of the genocide of the Gaza Palestinians. It is as if it is not happening. 6. Since Al Jazeera TV Channel is not watched by white Europeans and Americans, they must believe that nothing is happening to the people of Gaza. 7. They actually believe that the Israeli attacks are meant to achieve security for the state of Israel. And they support the Israeli war against the Palestinians. 8. Basically they are supporting Israeli genocidal war against the Palestinians. 9. I used to think of the Europeans as the pioneers of human rights. Now I know they are hypocrites. I have lost any respect I had for them. DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 5 November 2024
Responses on Malaysian social media varied, with some users urging Mahathir to continue his outspoken advocacy, while others pointed out his inaction during his own tenure as prime minister.
"During your 22 years as PM, you didn't do much for the Palestinian people. You only speak like a parrot but no action taken," wrote one user on X.
Mahathir's remarks came as current Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, also a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, said his government would seek the help of Arab nations at an emergency summit in Riyadh next week to propose Israel's expulsion from the United Nations.
Anwar said on Monday that Malaysia stood firm in supporting the Palestinians in their quest for sovereignty, free from "dispossession, terrorism, cruelty, and genocide" perpetrated by Israel.
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