ISTANBUL

Malaysia on Monday questioned the double standards of the international community over Palestine, saying the Western nations extended "swift" support to Ukraine, but ignored Palestinians.

“Why are there two different approaches? For instance, in the Ukraine crisis, the Western powers swiftly provided support to Kyiv. Unfortunately, when it comes to Palestine, it is entirely disregarded,” said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, addressing lawmakers in the parliament.

Hamidi highlighted the “contrast in how the international community responded to calamities in Palestine and Ukraine,” the daily Malay Mail reported.

“Moreover, any community that has long lived under oppression, suffering, and injustice without defense will certainly have a breaking point. This is what has happened in Palestine all along. The provocations and oppressions have escalated since the Israeli regime, backed by radical factions, took control of Tel Aviv,” he told the parliament, locally known as Dewan Rakyat.

The Gaza-based resistance group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets.

It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence.

In retaliation, the Israeli army launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli forces in Gaza has risen to 493, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Monday amid ongoing fighting.

It also said the number of injured people surged to 2,751.

The Interior Ministry in Gaza said the Israeli army has "intensified its aggression" on Gaza with hundreds of raids.

The Israeli army said it had struck over 500 targets in overnight raids on Gaza, which they claimed were targets belonging to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups.

At least 700 Israelis have been killed and over 2,300 others wounded in the fighting, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.