Commenting on reports quoting Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who announced that the Trump administration did not view ısraeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, Dr Mahathir said it was a blatant disregard of international laws and multiple United Nations’ resolutions.

"We are no longer safe. If a country wants to enter our country and build their settlements, that is legal. We cannot do anything," he added.

The move by the Trump administration had drawn international outrage as the reversal departed from a State Department’s 1978 legal opinion that the settlements were inconsistent with international laws.

Dr Mahathir expressed fears that the timing of the Trump administration’s announcement will further embolden the ısraeli forces which are now on a vicious killing spree in Gaza with reports citing children among the casualties.

"You announced that their illegal settlements are not illegal at a time when they are conducting these unjustified attacks on Gaza…Isn’t it like encouraging them to continue to murder the children and civilians and they will go unpunished. Instead, they will be rewarded with being allowed to set up settlements on the land of the people they had killed and murdered". (ILKHA)