Anwar expressed condolences to Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, for the loss of his three sons and four grandchildren in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip in April. The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the attack, claiming that the victims were operatives in the Hamas armed wing. Haniyeh’s grandchildren, three girls, and a boy, were also killed in the attack. However, the Israeli military stated that they had no information regarding the grandchildren’s deaths at that time. This meeting marked Anwar’s first face-to-face encounter with Haniyeh since becoming Malaysia’s prime minister.
Anwar had previously met with the Hamas leader twice, with the last meeting occurring in 2020 during Haniyeh’s visit to Malaysia. They also met in 2019. During his recent meeting with Haniyeh, Anwar also engaged with the leaders of the Qatari government to discuss the ongoing conflict. Both Malaysia and Qatar agreed that all parties involved should contribute to finding a resolution to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. The increasing death toll in the conflict has become a concerning issue, with Gaza health officials reporting over 35,000 Palestinian casualties, regardless of whether they were civilians or fighters.
Anwar’s expressions of condolence for the loss experienced by Haniyeh’s family in the Israeli airstrike highlight the human cost of the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The tragic deaths of Haniyeh’s children and grandchildren underscore the devastating impact of the violence on innocent civilians. The Israeli military’s confirmation of the attack on Haniyeh’s family members as operatives in the Hamas armed wing adds a layer of complexity to the situation, raising questions about the targeting of individuals associated with militant groups in civilian areas.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in a significant number of casualties, with thousands of Palestinians being killed as a result of military actions. The inability to differentiate between civilians and fighters among the casualties further complicates the humanitarian situation in the region. Anwar’s engagement with Haniyeh and other leaders to seek a resolution to the suffering of the Palestinian people reflects Malaysia’s commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region. By emphasizing the need for all parties to contribute to finding a solution, Malaysia and Qatar are advocating for a collective effort to address the root causes of the conflict.
The meeting between Anwar and Haniyeh serves as a platform for dialogue and communication between leaders from different countries involved in or impacted by the conflict. These discussions aim to foster understanding, seek common ground, and explore possible pathways towards peace and reconciliation. By reaching out to the Hamas leader and engaging with other stakeholders in the region, Anwar demonstrates a proactive approach to diplomacy and conflict resolution. The tragic loss of Haniyeh’s family members underscores the urgency of finding a sustainable and peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, emphasizing the human toll of the violence and the need for immediate action to prevent further loss of life.
