In a brief speech, Mahathir – who has been a vocal proponent of the Palestinian cause – said Israel should be categorised as a terrorist group for its “attack on a hospital in Gaza”.
“They broke international law and attacked a hospital,” he said.
According to the Gaza health ministry, the death toll from the deadly blast at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital is over 400. Both sides have denied responsibility for the attack on the hospital.
Mahathir, who is also an outspoken critic of Israel, lashed out against the US, Britain, and Europe for continuing to support the Tel Aviv regime.
“When Israel committed atrocities, they supported it. That is why we cannot accept the US, Britain, and Europe as human rights defenders because they don’t act like they are civilised.”
Khairy, meanwhile, said the memorandum of protest handed to the embassy, demanded for Israel to stop its illegal occupation of Palestine and recognise unconditionally the nation-state of Palestine.
He also wants to see Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu be hauled to the International Criminal Court (ICC) so that he can be tried as a terrorist.
Around 500 people marched from the Tabung Haji mosque along Jalan Tun Razak to the US embassy on the other side of the road, after Friday prayers at around 2pm.
Several organisations and political parties joined the protest, including the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim), Majlis Belia Malaysia, as well as Pejuang.
Other politicians who joined the protest include Mahathir’s son Mukhriz, Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali, former Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali and Terengganu Amanah chief Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah.
Israel declared war on Hamas following the group’s surprise attack on several locations in Israel on Oct 7. More than 3,000 people have been killed on both sides since.
United Nations data shows that at least one million people have been forced to flee their homes, and at least 400,000 displaced persons are now in UN schools and buildings, most of which are not equipped as emergency shelters.