KUALA LUMPUR (ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES) – Leading the charge of 16,000 pro-Palestinian supporters at the Bukit Jalil Indoor Stadium was Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, standing united in vehement condemnation of what they describe as “barbaric” acts unfolding in the Gaza strip, where the death toll is believed to have soared to alarming numbers.
This monumental assembly, convened in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday, marked the culmination of a series of demonstrations held in Malaysia over the past weeks, highlighting the strong resonance of Palestinian solidarity within the country’s Muslim-majority population.
More than 700 Palestinians were killed in overnight Israeli air strikes, Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Tuesday, the highest 24-hour death toll since Israel began a bombing campaign to crush Hamas militants who stunned the country with a deadly Oct 7 attack.
The Gaza Health Ministry has said at least 5,791 Palestinians have been killed in strikes since October 7.
Malaysia has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause and has called for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. It does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
“It’s a level of insanity to allow people to be butchered, babies to be killed, hospitals to be bombed, and schools to be destroyed… It’s the height of barbarism in this world,” Datuk Seri Anwar told the crowd gathered at an indoor stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
“We are with the Palestinian people yesterday, today and tomorrow,” he said, adding that support from the United States and Europe was bolstering Israel’s position.
Mr Anwar last week said he rejected Western pressure to condemn Hamas. He spoke to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh earlier in October and called for an immediate end to bombardment in Gaza and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor.
United Nations agencies called “on our knees” on Tuesday for aid to be allowed unimpeded into Gaza, saying more than 20 times the current deliveries were needed after two weeks of Israeli air strikes.
Carrying Palestinian flags and banners, the demonstrators in Kuala Lumpur chanted “long live Palestine” and “down with Israel”.
Ms Nurul Anis Syafiqah Muhammad, a 20-year-old student, said she was at the gathering to protest against Israeli actions.
“This is not just about religion, it is about humanity… As humans we must be compassionate towards each other,” she said.
