British PM faces pressure to recognise Palestinian state
Starmer said he will speak to French President Emmanuel Macron, who has confirmed France will recognise Palestinian statehood, making his country the first G7 nation to do so in a move that would be formalised at the UN General Assembly in September.
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New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Egypt's Sisi says Israel's war in Gaza a 'systematic genocide'
CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Tuesday Israel was pursuing "a war of starvation and genocide" in Gaza, and denied accusations Cairo prevented life-saving aid from entering the Palestinian territory. "The war in Gaza is no longer merely a war to achieve political goals or release hostages," Sisi told a press conference in Cairo along with his Vietnamese counterpart. Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, vowing to crush the Palestinian militant group and to free hostages. To Sisi, "this war has long since surpassed any logic or justification, and has become a war of starvation and genocide." "There is systematic genocide to eradicate the Palestinian cause," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday Israel must "complete" the defeat of Hamas to free hostages held in Gaza, a day after Israeli media reported the army could occupy the entire territory. Israel has heavily restricted aid into Gaza which is slipping into a catastrophic famine 22 months into the war. It has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Following mounting international pressure on Israel, in late May aid has only began trickling into Gaza, which borders Israel and Egypt. In response to what Sisi said were "bankrupt" accusations of Egypt's complicity in the siege, the president reiterated that the Rafah border crossing with Gaza was "never closed." The crossing at Rafah was a vital entry point of aid in the early months of the war, until Israeli troops took over its Palestinian side in May 2024, forcing it shut. "The crossing was able to bring in aid as long as there were no Israeli troops stationed on the Palestinian side of the crossing," Sisi said, adding that there are 5,000 trucks loaded with aid waiting to enter Gaza. He also defended what he said was Egypt's consistently "positive" role seeking an end to the conflict. Since the war began, Cairo has undertaken a delicate balancing act, retaining its position as a mediator between Israel and Hamas – along with the United States and Qatar – while repeatedly criticising Israel's assault. Cairo has also repeatedly refused US plans to displace Palestinians into Egypt, lobbying for a reconstruction plan for the territory that has fallen by the wayside as truce talks repeatedly folded. "Egypt will always remain a gateway for aid, not a gateway for the displacement of the Palestinian people," Sisi said on Tuesday. "We are prepared to allow aid in at any time, but we are not prepared to receive or displace Palestinians from their land." Last week, Sisi urged US President Donald Trump – who had touted the plan to displace Palestinians into Egypt – to intervene, saying he "is the one capable of ending the war, brining in aid and ending this suffering."
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Anwar calls for deeper appreciation of Asian history, free from colonial narratives
Anwar at the launch of the 'More Than A Day As A Tiger' exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. – Bernama --fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for a deeper appreciation of Asian history that moves beyond colonial narratives, citing Tipu Sultan of Mysore, an Indian ruler who fought against the British East India Company as a model of courage, learning and tolerance. He said that the contributions of Tipu Sultan and his father Haider Ali, as defenders against British colonial expansion, exemplified the importance of understanding history from the perspective of local and regional leaders rather than solely from Western accounts. "History is not necessarily very kind, one of our scholars Syed Hussein Alatas emphasised the need to reconstruct history because history cannot be written only by the winners or from the perspective of the colonial rulers," he said during the launch of the "More Than A Day As A Tiger" exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, here on Tuesday (Aug 5) night. Also present were the Prime Minister's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail; Albukhary Foundation chairman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary; Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai and his spouse, as well as representatives from embassies and consulates. Anwar noted that Malaysian history, like that of many others, is often written from the perspective of the British, essentially reflecting Western colonial rule. "Of course, there have been lots of academic accounts, including by Edward Said on Orientalism, but the manner, the whole discipline of history, culture and society is being dictated by certain Western viewpoints," he said. Anwar also shared his personal experience visiting Mysore before taking office, recalling his admiration for Tipu Sultan's modest palace and his protection of Hindu temples, including the ancient temple there. He also praised Tipu Sultan's foresight in mastering military technology to confront colonial powers, citing the Mysore Sultanate's renowned cannons and firearms that had shocked the British in the early wars. "It is not just an ordinary exhibition, but to showcase the history of India and the Muslim world, and the history of the anti-colonial struggle against colonial rule, in this particular case, the British rule. "His diplomatic skills with the few sultanates, Muslims and Hindus in India and his venture into international diplomacy, particularly in persuading the French forces to support his struggle against the British," he said. Anwar noted that while Malaysians have historically had limited knowledge of Tipu Sultan and Haider Ali's legacy, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia's exhibition would significantly enhance understanding about the two historical figures. Featuring an extensive collection of artefacts, manuscripts, weaponry and artworks related to Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, the exhibition will run from tomorrow until Jan 11, 2026, at Special Gallery 2. – Bernama
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Anwar urges shift from colonial lens on Asian history
KUALA LUMPUR: Asian history should be viewed beyond colonial narratives, as it is important to understand history from the perspective of local leaders. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this is as the contributions of the likes of Tipu Sultan of Mysore and his father, Haider Ali, as defenders against British colonial expansion, exemplified courage, knowledge and tolerance. "History is not necessarily very kind. One of our scholars, Syed Hussein Alatas, emphasised the need to reconstruct history because it cannot be written only by the winners or from the perspective of the colonial rulers. "Malaysian history, as is other histories, is always written from the perspective of the British, essentially Western colonial rule. "Of course, there have been lots of academic accounts, including by Edward Said on Orientalism, but the manner, the whole discipline of history and culture and society is being dictated by certain Western viewpoints," he said. Anwar was speaking at the launch of the "More Than A Day As A Tiger" exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. He said Tipu Sultan was a strong leader, a fighter for freedom, a scholar, and one of the few who understood the need to master technology in order to fight colonial powers. "That is why you see his cannons and guns (are) remarkable for the time, used to challenge the colonial rulers," he said. Anwar recounted visiting Mysore, where he was struck by the modest size of Tipu Sultan's palace and the extent of his personal library. He also noted that Tipu Sultan was also a skilled diplomat who united Muslims and Hindus in India and persuaded French forces to support his struggle against the British. He said the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia's latest exhibition was the most comprehensive ever mounted on Tipu Sultan and Haider Ali, anywhere in the world. Anwar added that many artefacts once thought lost were now on display in Malaysia. The exhibition will be held from Aug 6 till Jan 11, next year. It highlights the legacy of the two men, who were rulers of Mysore in southern India. The exhibition showcases their heritage, struggles and impact, featuring artefacts, manuscripts, weaponry, textiles and artworks, while exploring the symbolism, ideology and historical legacy that made Tipu Sultan an enduring icon of anti-colonial resistance.
