ISRAEL MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, SAYS M'SIAN MINISTER

KOTA TINGGI (Malaysia), Jan 10 (Bernama) -- Israel must be held accountable for its atrocities in Gaza, said Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

Syed Hamid, who is also the Member of Parliament for southern constituency
of Kota Tinggi, said its leaders must be made to face a war crimes tribunal as
proposed by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Israel has perpetrated state terrorism. Its actions in Gaza now are in
violation of international laws and against humanity and the Geneva Convention.

"They (Israelis) killed innocent people and Israel should not be allowed to
go scot-free," he told reporters after launching a gotong-royong (neighbourhood
goodwill) campaign in a village here, Saturday.

The former prime minister made the call for the tribunal Friday saying it
would instill fear in leaders who tacitly backed the atrocities committed by
Israel's leaders.

Air, sea and land attacks by Israel on Gaza, which entered its 15th day
today, have claimed some 800 lives, mostly civilians and children.

Syed Hamid said the United States must also be made to pay for supporting
Israel's actions in Gaza.

Islamic nations should also unite and organise mass movements to object to
what is happening in Gaza, he said, adding that the United Nation's Human Rights
Commission and other human rights commissions elsewhere must also condemn
Israel's actions in the strongest manner possible.