PUTRAJAYA - Oil producers from Islamic countries have been urged to stop selling oil and gas supplies not only to Israel but also to its allies, the United States (US) and Europe.
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said that the move is one of the steps that Islamic countries can take to put pressure on the zionists who are conducting genocide against the Palestinian people.
"Allah SWT has given so much oil to Islamic countries, but we can deny the supply so that they feel the effects," he said at the press conference for Ending the Blockade of World Humanitarian Aid to Gaza at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here on Tuesday.
Other attendees included Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) Chief Activist Datuk Nadzim Johan, Muslim Care Malaysia (MCM) President Zulkifli Wahijan, and Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations of Malaysia (MAPIM) President Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid.
He said that actual action must be performed right now, rather than just chanting empty words.
"Anyone can condemn Zionist crimes, but in fact we can also impose restrictions on them, with the whole world united to continue the initiative of boycotting the products of the countries concerned," he said.
He said that the countries that condemn the genocide by Israel need to unite so that actions and a common tone can be achieved.
"Whether successful or not, this is one of the actions that can be taken.
"It may not be effective, but if a large number of people boycott the company, it will go bankrupt," he remarked.
In the meantime, he encouraged Egypt to permit Palestinian women and children to flee through the Rafah Border Crossing, the only entrance, to seek safety while the men could carry on defending their country.
"This kind of protection at least gives relief to the refugees.
"Therefore, I'm hoping that the Muslim nations surrounding Palestine, especially Egypt, will allow at least women and children to seek safety," he said.
Dr.Mahathir also criticised the actions of the US, which used its veto power to block the United Nations (UN) from sending peacekeepers.
"The goal of peacekeeping forces is to curb the number of deaths. However, due to the US's UN veto power, they were not sent to Gaza,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zulkifli wants the Rafah border gate to be fully opened so that humanitarian aid, including food, water, and medical teams, can be delivered to Gaza.
"We are not sending military forces, but we want to send peacekeeping forces," he said.