Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has said that Israel’s military actions in Gaza “will not be forgotten for maybe centuries,” adding his voice to growing international criticism over the conflict.
His remarks come as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) continues hearings in a case brought by South Africa, which accuses Israel of breaching the Genocide Convention in its ongoing operations in Gaza.
The Court issued provisional measures in May 2024, ordering Israel to take steps to prevent acts that could be considered genocidal, but has not yet delivered a final ruling.
Independent human-rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have released reports asserting that Israel’s conduct meets the legal definition of genocide.
However, legal experts caution that only the ICJ can issue a binding judgment, and such proceedings may take years to conclude.
Mahathir, a longstanding critic of Israel, made the comments in an interview published on Sunday.
His statement underscores the lasting political and moral impact of the conflict, even as the legal and diplomatic processes surrounding it remain unresolved.
