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Malaysia a target for Israeli spies over Gaza stance, Anwar warns
Prime minister points to recent gun smuggling case as evidence of Israel’s Mossad among intelligence agencies operating in Malaysia
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Malaysia is being targeted by Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency over its support for the Palestinian cause, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has claimed, vowing to boost his country’s own surveillance and security against potential infiltrators.
The Muslim-majority nation has been the leading Southeast Asian voice accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, where the enclave’s health ministry says at least 59,000 people have been killed, with the toll spiking daily as they are gunned down queuing for food.
Malaysia has also called for Israel’s expulsion from the United Nations for what it says were numerous war crimes and persistent violations of international law against Palestinians, as well as genocide.
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Anwar on Tuesday said international intelligence agencies, particularly Mossad, were operating in the country, pointing to a recent gun smuggling case that involved a local couple who were believed to have worked for an alleged Israeli agent.
Israeli national Shalom Avitan was sentenced to seven years’ jail in February on charges of possessing six unlicensed guns and a cache of bullets. The 39-year-old is the first Israeli to be charged and jailed in Malaysia.
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