Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Pawi said the success demonstrated the effectiveness of Malaysia’s moral diplomacy and international network, despite having no official relations with Israel, Bernama reported.
“Anwar employed a ‘cross-border diplomacy’ approach and discreet negotiations through third-party countries, such as Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Turkey.
“These are nations with direct influence over Israel and access to Gaza. This reflects a multi-layered diplomatic strategy,” he was quoted as saying.
Awang Azman said Anwar employed a multi-layered approach – from humanitarian diplomacy that placed the volunteers’ safety above politics, to multilateral efforts via bodies such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Asean, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
He said the success boosted Anwar’s domestic image as a principled and empathetic leader, while internationally reinforcing Malaysia’s standing as a “moral voice of the Global South”.
“Strategically, this positions Anwar as a modern and progressive Islamic leader who wisely balances principle and geopolitical reality. It enhances his image as a ‘negotiator with conscience’, a leader who upholds justice without bowing to global pressure.
“In this context, Anwar has strengthened Malaysia’s diplomatic legacy as a nation that speaks boldly yet acts wisely, a rare balance in today’s international arena,” he said.
In a similar vein, Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan said Malaysia maximised its strong ties with Jordan and Turkey, both of which have direct channels with Tel Aviv.
He said the achievement was not coincidental but the result of consistent strategic diplomacy by the national leadership.
“This highlights how crucial close relationships between leaders are. We cannot sideline countries that maintain relations with Israel, as such links can be tactfully used to exert diplomatic pressure.
“This is the kind of subtle diplomacy the prime minister has displayed,” he said.
Azmi noted that Anwar had applied similar methods in regional conflicts, such as engaging China and the US to help secure a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia earlier this year.
He said Anwar’s global credibility remains strong, though domestically some remain reluctant to recognise his achievements due to political rivalry.