In a statement, the foreign ministry strongly condemned the accusations made by Netanyahu against Egypt on arms smuggling across the border to Hamas on Monday, describing them as baseless, provocative, irresponsible and uncalled for.

“Malaysia asserts that Egypt has every right to reject all allegations made by the Israeli official in this regard,” read the statement.

The ministry added that these actions by the Israeli regime are part of an absurd and reprehensible attempts to prolong the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza which the Zionist regime has now expanded into several cities in the West Bank, resulting in further loss of life and devastation.

The foreign ministry reiterated Malaysia’s strong support for the efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the US to mediate a permanent ceasefire based on the three-phase ceasefire proposal by the US and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735 (2024).

“It is clear that a ceasefire deal has not been possible until now due to the Zionist Israeli regime’s intransigence and belligerence in constantly changing its goalposts.

The Egyptian foreign ministry termed Netanyahu’s accusations as an attempt to hinder mediation efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire and a prisoner swap deal.

On Wednesday, Jordan, Qatar, Palestine and Kuwait also condemned Netanyahu’s accusations that weapons were being smuggled to the Palestinian resistance group through the Egyptian border, the Anadolu Agency reported.

The foreign ministry said Malaysia will remain steadfast in its commitment to the Palestinian cause and continue its efforts towards the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“Malaysia will also work with like-minded countries for the state of Palestine’s admission to the United Nations as a full-fledged member,” the statement read.