Malaysia's Anwar slams 'hypocrisy' over Gaza crisis

Prime minister reiterates call for humanitarian cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war

20231215 Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Portrait

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, pictured in Tokyo on Dec. 17, argues that some countries that promote democracy and human rights are engaging in "hypocrisy" when it comes to Gaza. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)

NORMAN GOH, Nikkei staff writer

December 17, 2023 22:28 JST

TOKYO -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday criticized what he termed international "hypocrisy" over the crisis in the Gaza Strip, urging the world to do more to achieve a humanitarian cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

In an exclusive interview with Nikkei Asia in Tokyo, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Japan summit meetings over the weekend, Anwar argued that some countries are not practicing what they preach as the civilian death toll in Gaza mounts.