Anwar Ibrahim Calls Gaza Actions 'State Terrorism', Declines to Label Pakistan

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has described Israel's military campaign in Gaza as "state terrorism", while declining to apply the same characterisation to Pakistan over last year's Pahalgam attack.

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in India, Ibrahim condemned Israeli actions against Hamas and called for an end to what he termed the colonisation of Palestine. "Hamas is just 20 years old. But the colonisation of Palestine is 70 years old," he said, adding that Malaysia and India both understand colonisation and cannot condone Palestine's colonisation by Israel. He described the continuous bombing and killings as atrocious.

Pressed on whether the same standard should apply to Pakistan over the Pahalgam attack, Ibrahim declined. "I wouldn't go to that extent. I know it's very sensitive to say that in India. I'm a close friend of Modi Ji, and we also engage with the Pakistanis," he said, refusing to call Pakistan a state sponsoring terror against India.

When presented with figures on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism that has claimed thousands of lives in India, Ibrahim said none of his intelligence agencies had established that such acts were directed by Pakistan. He added that he was not suggesting there had been no terrorist acts, but that the link to state sponsorship had to be established before he could make such a reference as Prime Minister.

Ibrahim praised India as a great country with a great civilisation, culture and history, and expressed hope that issues between India and Pakistan would be resolved.