‘Height of barbarism’: Malaysia’s Anwar slams Israel over Gaza strikes as thousands flock to pro-Palestinian rally
- The prime minister says the situation will become more brutal because of ‘Israel’s arrogance that is backed by the United States and Europe’
- Anwar remains unmoved in pro-Palestinian stance, which analysts say could also reap domestic dividends among an increasingly decisive Muslim electorate
“We have to accept the fact that the situation is going to become more dire for Gaza because of Israel’s arrogance that is backed by the United States and Europe. These next few weeks will be brutal, under the palms of Israel,” Anwar told a crowd of over 20,000 at the Axiata Arena.
Anwar said the situation had reached a “level of insanity”, with more than 5,000 Palestinians, nearly 2,000 of them children, killed under Israel’s bombardment since October 7, according to data from Gaza’s ministry of health.
“It is the height of barbarism in this world,” Anwar said. “Where is justice? Where is humanity? Where [are the] democratic ideals and human rights that the West is talking about?”
“Every day we see videos of children dying, mothers crying, buildings being bombed,” university student Amin Syukri told This Week in Asia. “What will it take for world leaders to stop this madness?”