Watan-Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim responded to the question of why Arab and Islamic countries, despite their large number, are unable to provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict in the region.
Anwar Ibrahim stated in a televised interview with Al Jazeera: “Because we are weak, we are weak, and many Islamic nations wonder why we do not unite, why we do not improve our conditions and collaborate to help the Palestinians.”
He added that the international community has failed to stop the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, whether from democratic nations or major powers, leaving the Palestinians to face death.
Al Jazeera Host’s Astonishment
Al Jazeera host Ahmed Taha expressed his astonishment at the statement of the Malaysian Prime Minister, stating that it was unprecedented among Arab and Islamic leaders.
He expressed confusion about the bias against Palestinians or against Islam, describing it as inhumane and indicative of madness.
“لماذا لا تتحد الدول العربية والإسلامية؟”.. رئيس الوزراء الماليزي يجيب بصراحة عن هذا السؤال pic.twitter.com/jubvL2g1ub
— الجزيرة مباشر (@ajmubasher) February 2, 2024
Taha clarified that he did not mean a lack of efforts or initiatives to help the Palestinians, but there are no practical steps, confirming that major countries refuse to allow the entry of aid.
He pointed out that the United States is at the forefront of these countries, emphasizing that Malaysia has good relations with the United States, but there is no agreement between them regarding the Palestinian issue.
Dire Conditions in Gaza
The Gaza Strip continues to endure catastrophic conditions due to the ongoing Israeli aggression since October 7. This is happening amid a blockade imposed on the region.
Concerns have escalated with several countries suspending their funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), threatening the imminent halt of its relief operations.
Recently, Human Rights Watch stated that governments should continue funding UNRWA due to its crucial role in avoiding a humanitarian catastrophe and the risk of famine in Gaza.
UNRWA Warning
UNRWA, the largest relief organization in Gaza, warned that if funding is not resumed, it will be unable to continue its operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and three other countries in the region where it operates, after the end of February.
This follows allegations by Israeli authorities about the alleged involvement of some UNRWA employees in attacks on October 7. UNRWA announced that it had decided to dismiss the identified employees and promptly initiated an investigation to reveal the truth.