The prime minister said he was very disturbed on hearing from the Hamas leader about the plight of Muslims in Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip, which was so heartbreaking.

“On behalf of the people of Malaysia, I expressed my condolences and sadness over the loss of lives and injuries inflicted on Palestinians by the Israeli regime’s vicious attacks,” he said in a posting on his official Facebook page today.

Muhyiddin said Ismail expressed his utmost appreciation to Malaysians for their continued extension of aid to Palestinians and concern over the plight of the people in Palestine.

In reaffirming Malaysia’s support for the Palestinian struggle, the prime minister said Malaysia was continuing with efforts to fight for the rights of Palestinians even when they were facing these difficult times.

Meanwhile, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong also expressed concern and sadness over the Israeli military aggression and violent attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Gaza Strip.

Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara, Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, said the King described the incursions and ongoing attacks against the third holiest mosque in Islam and the Palestinians in the last days of Ramadan as heinous, cruel and inhumane.

He said the King, in line with Muhyiddin’s special message on Palestine yesterday, expressed support for Malaysia to lead, together with Indonesia and Brunei, in issuing a joint statement to strongly condemn the Israeli Zionist regime’s brutal attacks on Palestinians.

It was reported that Israel’s aggression against the Palestinians started with the attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque on May 7, followed by airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Monday (May 10).

Thus far, more than 119 Palestinians have been reported killed and hundreds more injured.