FORMER prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has hit out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, calling the position “the most ungrateful statement”.
In a Facebook post today, Mahathir said Netanyahu had made clear that there would be no Palestinian state for as long as he remained prime minister.
“This is the most ungrateful statement,” Mahathir said.
“There was no Israel until Palestinian land was excised to create the state of Israel.”
He also took aim at Netanyahu and his supporters, saying gratitude was not among their characteristics.
“Gratefulness is not a characteristic of the Israeli PM and his supporters,” he said.
Mahathir’s remarks came against the backdrop of continued calls by hardline Israeli figures for tougher military action in Gaza.
Earlier this week, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for between 30 and 40 Palestinians to be killed in Gaza every night.
Ben-Gvir made the remarks during a podcast interview with former Gaza hostage Rom Braslavski, where he argued against reducing Israeli military operations in the territory.
The comments drew international condemnation, including from the United Nations, which criticised the call for further violence against Palestinians.
Mahathir’s latest remarks also come as the question of Palestinian statehood remains at the centre of international efforts to resolve the conflict in Gaza. – August 20, 2026
