PETALING JAYA (ANN/THE STAR) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has strongly condemned the assassination of former Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, describing it as a deliberate act aimed at derailing ongoing truce talks in the Gaza conflict.
Anwar denounced the murder, which targeted Haniyeh, who also served as the chairman of Hamas’s political bureau, as “heinous” and a clear attempt to disrupt peace efforts. He criticised the act as being committed in an environment of impunity and called for intensified pressure on Israel to halt its actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 40,000 casualties.
In a Facebook post, Anwar expressed deep concern for the Palestinian people, who have endured decades of suffering. He defended his past meetings with Haniyeh, emphasising the latter’s commitment to a peaceful resolution and the restoration of Palestinian dignity. “I mourn the loss of a dear friend and a valiant advocate for his people,” Anwar said.
According to Hamas, Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his residence in Tehran, Iran, where he was attending the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Reports indicate that the Hamas leader was struck by an “airborne guided projectile” early Tuesday morning.
Anwar relayed his shock over the “madness of the Zionist regime” during a phone call with senior Hamas official Dr Basem Naim. Dr Naim stressed the importance of continuing the fight for Palestinian freedom despite the tragedy. Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia’s support for an independent Palestine and criticised the international community’s failure to uphold justice and peace.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, who was in Tehran for the inauguration, and other Malaysian delegates are reported to be safe.
The assassination has drawn global condemnation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have both condemned the act, with Khamenei promising “harsh punishment” for Israel.
In a related development, the Prime Minister’s Office has demanded an apology from Meta Platforms Inc for removing an Instagram post related to Anwar’s May meeting with Hamas leaders. The PMO described the removal as discriminatory against Palestinians and their leaders and called for a formal apology from Meta.
