Malaysia Strongly Condemns Israel Air Strikes In Gaza

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia on Monday strongly condemned the latest Israeli air strikes on Gaza that claimed the lives of 18 Palestinians, among them children. Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said it was feared that the irresponsible action of the Zionist regime would result in retaliation which was bound to undermine efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. "The air strikes, which also injured many more, are the worst since the fierce attack on Gaza in December 2008. "As such, Malaysia calls on the two sides to cease all provocative action and for the international community, particularly the Middle East Quartet (of Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations), to act fast and urge Israel to stop the attacks on Palestine," he said in a statement. Anifah said it was most important for the two sides to restore normalcy immediately to avert greater damage to property and loss of lives, particularly among civilians in the Gaza peninsula. -- BERNAMA