Mahathir Mohamad Slams Gaza Aid Blockade

Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad  strongly condemned Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian assistance to Gaza, saying the situation reflects a deep moral failure by the global community.

In a post yesterday shared on the social media platform X, Mahathir said tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, adding that Israeli military operations have continued despite a ceasefire that began more than two months ago.

He criticised Israel for cutting off vital supplies, including food and medicine, and for preventing medical professionals from entering Gaza to treat patients in hospitals that have been badly damaged or destroyed.

Mahathir said the world is witnessing these actions in real time yet failing to respond meaningfully, calling it a sign that humanity has lost its claim to civilisation.

“When injustice, mass killings and unchecked violence are allowed to continue, it shows how far humanity has fallen,” he said.

Israel has recently barred up to 37 humanitarian organisations from working in Gaza, citing their failure to meet newly imposed registration requirements.

The decision, which came into effect on January 1, has been widely criticised by aid groups, who warn it will worsen the already dire humanitarian conditions faced by Gaza’s population.