Malaysia: Gaza infighting 'benefiting Israel'

Malaysia warned the Hamas and Fatah groups today that their infighting in Gaza was playing into Israel’s hands, and destroying plans for an independent Palestinian state.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar called for “give-and-take” between the two rival groups, saying their refusal to share power, and the sacking of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, would not resolve the problem.

“Malaysia is against any move, any action that uses militancy or physical means to solve problems,” Syed Hamid said.

“We’ve got Muslims killing Muslims,” he said. “It’s a killing field for everybody.”

“It’s a good weapon for Israel, for those who say there is no need to implement the peace plan,” Syed Hamid said. “Israel will continue with its ways, and our ambition to create a Palestinian state will fail.”

Hamas effectively took control of the Gaza Strip yesterday after days of deadly battles.

Syed Hamid said the 57-country Organisation of the Islamic Conference, currently chaired by Malaysia, was in “a state of hopelessness” as Hamas and Fatah had ignored its previous peace efforts.

“The OIC can make 101 moves, but as long as there is no will to resolve it internally ... it will not solve the problem,” he said. “We hope there will be a situation of give-and-take, to find a solution that will benefit the Palestinian people.”

OIC secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, in Kuala Lumpur for an OIC function, said the world’s main Muslim body was monitoring the Palestinian crisis closely.

“The situation is very critical, very tense. There is a need to stop the deteriorating after the dismissal of the government,” he said after meeting Syed Hamid.

Yesterday, Ihsanoglu rejected the idea of deploying a multi-national force in Gaza and said the Palestinians needed strong leadership to resolve the internal crisis.