Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has once again expressed his unwavering support for the Hamas movement and its actions against the Israeli regime. Speaking at the Statesmen's Week forum with the theme 'Malay, History and Identity' at the Perdana Leadership Foundation, Mahathir reiterated his 100% support for Hamas and described their military operations as a means to 'teach' the alleged arrogance of the illegal Jewish state.
In his address, Mahathir acknowledged that Israel's retaliation, such as Operation Iron Sword, was to be expected and not unprecedented. He pointed out that when Israel is attacked, it responds with even greater force. However, he emphasized that what sets the current situation apart is that for the first time in Israel's 75-year history, they are experiencing the suffering inflicted upon the people of Palestine.
Mahathir highlighted the casualties among Jewish settlers as a result of unexpected attacks, emphasizing the apparent vulnerability of Israel's advanced defense systems. He justified Hamas' actions as a response to the violent invasion of their homeland by Israel, asserting that they cannot be labeled as terrorists when they are defending themselves and their people.
Moreover, Mahathir drew attention to the dire living conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza, where their movements are restricted and they suffer greatly under Israeli siege, likening it to an open prison. He claimed that many public facilities are blocked and inaccessible to the Palestinian population.
Taking a sarcastic tone, Mahathir emphasized the need to demonstrate that Israel too can experience the consequences of its actions. He stated, "We really have to teach Israel back; you have killed many people, and now you have to go back to what it was like to be killed."
It is worth noting that Mahathir had previously met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and a delegation during their visit to Malaysia in January 2020, which served as a courteous diplomatic gesture.
In reaffirming his support for Hamas and their actions against Israel, Mahathir has engaged in a discourse critical of Israel's policies and the suffering endured by Palestinians. By highlighting the perceived injustices faced by the Palestinian people, he continues to promote his position on this contentious issue.
felixwrite is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
