The PM admitted that the meeting with the Hamas leader caused anxiety among his friends, especially in the West
Anwar said in a meeting with Ismail Haniyeh, Malaysia suggested that Hamas take into account the views of various parties to find a peaceful and immediate solution. - Photo file/X/@Anwar Ibrahim
14/05/2024 23:42 MYTH
The PM admitted that the meeting with the Hamas leader caused anxiety among his friends, especially in the West
Anwar said in a meeting with Ismail Haniyeh, Malaysia suggested that Hamas take into account the views of various parties to find a peaceful and immediate solution. - Photo file/X/@Anwar Ibrahim
DOHA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim admitted that his meeting with the top leader of Hamas yesterday is likely to cause anxiety among Malaysian friends, especially from the West.
However, he said Malaysia is only an independent country that supports peace efforts in the Gaza Strip and takes advantage of its good relations with Hamas for that purpose.
Taking the example of Qatar, the Prime Minister said the Gulf state had taken advantage of its good relations with Hamas to hold negotiations that led to the release of 109 prisoners.
"We also take the same approach (using good relations)," he told the Malaysian media before ending his three-day official visit to Qatar today.
Anwar said in a meeting with Ismail Haniyeh, Malaysia suggested that Hamas take into account the views of various parties to find a peaceful and immediate solution.
"I see the leadership of Hamas taking an open attitude to find a solution but stop the violence, the aggression by the Zionist regime of Israel on Gaza and the surrounding areas of the West Bank from continuing to be attacked by groups and mobs from Israel.
"Qatar takes the same position and (Prime Minister) Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani informed me in his negotiations with both parties, Hamas is ready to meet some conditions (set) but unfortunately, Israel refuses to accept these conditions."
"(Thus), regarding my meeting with them (Hamas) I want to clarify once again that we take an independent stance and this Hamas, like the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) and before Fatah and the PA (Palestinian Authority), have the right to defend territories that are colonized by foreign powers but we take an approach of supporting peace efforts.
"(Our approach is) to connect with the political body of Hamas and not engage in any military activities, so this is what we will make clear and I believe our friends (from the West) will raise," he said.
Referring to his bilateral meeting with Andrzej Duda outside the Qatar Economic Forum today, Anwar said the Polish President asked about his meeting with the Hamas leader.
"We make it clear that there is no reason why (we) cannot hold that discussion... Malaysia as an independent country, we take wise decisions but our decisions help the path of peace, not incitement.
"... and before I met them, I asked the opinion of the Emir of Qatar (Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani) and the Prime Minister of Qatar because they are more knowledgeable and closely related to Hamas in the process of finding a fair method of peace," he said.
The meeting between Anwar and Haniyeh, Head of the Hamas Political Bureau , lasted for over an hour.
Former Hamas Chairman Khaled Mashal was also present.
This was Anwar's first face-to-face meeting with Haniyeh after he became Prime Minister of Malaysia.
