‘Civilization has failed’: Malaysian statesman Mahathir slams US, EU over Gaza genocide

Veteran Malaysian statesman Mahathir Mohamad on Friday criticised the support extended to Israel by the US and EU, saying it is “disgusting”, Anadolu news agency reported.

“The America which wants to be great again, aid and abet the genocide by the Israelis,” said the 99-year-old former prime minister of the Southeast Asian nation.

“So do its European allies. This is the behaviour of savages, not civilised people,” he said about support provided to Tel Aviv in its genocidal military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has been in place in Gaza since 19 January, pausing the Israeli war that has killed more than 48,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

“We cannot claim to be civilized when we ignore all those high moral values that we associate with modern civilization,” Mahathir said on X.

The “mass murder being committed by Israel… is supported financially and with weapons by the great advocates of human rights, the sanctity of human life, the abhorrence of cruelty,” he added.

“We see tens of thousand(s) of people being killed, being starved to death, denied supply of water and medicine. We see hospitals and schools and refugee camps being bombed and rocketed,” said the veteran politician. “Yes. Civilisation has failed.”

READ: Malaysia former Premier Mahathir slams European ‘hypocrisy’ over war on Gaza