Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim recently held a meeting with top Hamas leaders in Qatar. This meeting took place shortly after American officials visited Qatar to discuss concerns about Iran funding regional proxies, including Hamas, in the country.
During his visit to Qatar, where he attended the Qatar Economic Forum, Anwar met with a Hamas delegation led by Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashal. He commended Hamas for releasing hostages and called on the Israeli government to release Palestinian prisoners and work towards a peace plan.
Anwar also urged Hamas to consider various viewpoints to resolve the Gaza conflict peacefully. The Malaysian leader discussed the conflict with Qatari leaders as well, according to reports by the Malaysian state media agency Bernama.
Following the U.S. Treasury Department’s visit to Malaysia to discuss concerns about Iran using Malaysian entities to finance militant groups, Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia’s stance on economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the UN Security Council.
Anwar has been vocal in his criticism of Israel and has openly engaged with Hamas, unlike other national leaders. His support for the Palestinian cause and willingness to engage with Hamas reflects Malaysia’s strong stance on the issue.
Despite concerns raised by Western partners about his engagement with Hamas, Anwar sees it as a domestic political necessity. He is determined to maintain Malaysia’s support for the Palestinian cause and not succumb to pressure from Western countries.
Through his meeting with Hamas leaders, Anwar aims to clarify Malaysia’s stance on engaging with Hamas politically and not militarily. He acknowledges that the meeting may be seen as controversial by Western allies but remains firm in his commitment to the Palestinian cause.