KUALA LUMPUR — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the relentless attacks by the Israeli forces against the Palestinians in Gaza is no longer war against the Hamas movement, but a clear act of genocide.
The former prime minister shared his 15 minutes telephone conversation with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on Oct 27, on his social media pages.
“What is happening now is no longer war. It is genocide. It is an attempt to kill as many Palestinians as possible, including innocent people.
“So that is the purpose of the Israeli attack now… It’s not about fighting a war, it is just about trying to commit genocide against Hamas.
“It is not the Palestinians attacking Israel. It is just Israel wanting to kill as many Palestinians as possible,” he said.
“And even if you don’t fight them, they are trying to kill you because that is the final solution as made out by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu.
In the telephone conversation, Ismail Haniyeh, speaking in Arabic, asked Tun M help correct the western and Israeli narratives of drawing parallels between Hamas and ISIS or Daesh.
Liberation of Palestine
Haniyeh further said that Hamas is a legitimate organisation supported by the Palestinian people in its struggles for the liberation of Palestine.
“What happened on 7 October was not a sudden act but a retaliation to Israel’s aggressions in Al Quds, West Bank and Gaza, the continuous siege of Gaza, and the escalation of occupation of settlements in the West Bank as well as the storming of the Al Aqsa on a daily basis.” stressed Haniyeh.
Tun M agreed with the Hamas leader, saying that it is not acts of terrorism, but it is the Palestinians’ attempt to regain their own land.
“They are fighting for their own liberation.” Mahathir said. “The action taken by Hamas is fully justified and we will explain that to everybody.”
The two time prime minister appealed for a cessation of fire. “Not a pause but truly a cessation of war.” — Malaysiaxpress
