TOKYO -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday accused the U.S. of "not using all its might, influence and resources" to address the "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza that has resulted from the Israel-Hamas war.
Anwar spoke at The Future of Asia, Nikkei's flagship annual conference, which opened Thursday in Tokyo.
In a question and answer session, he described the situation in Gaza as a "humanitarian crisis of an unprecedented scale."
"How can you condone the genocide or apartheid or ethnic cleansing, and how [can] you deny that when the whole world can see?" he said.
The prime minister urged the international community to push for a humanitarian cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, which triggered the conflict when it sent militants into Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking over 200 hostages. Israel's retaliation in Gaza has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The Israeli government has estimated that the death toll includes about 14,000 militants and 16,000 civilians.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the fighting in the small enclave, with aid groups warning of severe shortages of food, water and access to health services.
Muslim-majority Malaysia has consistently expressed support for the Palestinian cause for decades. But Anwar said he sees a "systemic shift" in how the conflict is viewed elsewhere, including in the U.S., pointing to the protests against Israeli actions by American students on college campuses. He said the demonstrations reminded him of "what happened during the Vietnam War."
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has been sharply critical of some Israeli conduct in Gaza but has defended Israel's right to security and pushed back against the gravest allegations. "What's happening in Gaza is not genocide. We reject that," Biden said at a White House event this week.
Anwar on Thursday also touched on another conflict dividing the world -- the U.S.-China rivalry for global leadership.
Malaysia and other Asian countries should remain neutral and balance their relationships with both powers, he advised.
"Things have changed," Anwar said. "More countries are exercising their more independent views, other than being part of a Cold War sort of grouping."
He addressed both President Biden and former President Donald Trump, who are poised for a rematch in November's U.S. election. "We just hope that both Biden or Trump would accept these new realities."
This year's Future of Asia conference has brought together political and business luminaries from across the region to discuss the theme "Asian leadership in an uncertain world."
Other speakers on Thursday include Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, Mongolian Parliament Chairman Gombojav Zandanshatar and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol.
