Facebook blocks Malaysian PM’s post on Ismail Haniyeh

Ibrahim, who met Haniyeh in Qatar in May, said on Thursday that Meta Platforms had opened new tab of cowardice after his Facebook post on the assassination of Haniyeh was blocked.

“Let this serve as a clear and unequivocal message to Meta: Cease this display of cowardice,” Anwar said in a post on his Facebook page.

Earlier, the Malaysian prime minister had stressed that he had good relations with the Hamas political leadership but no links on a military level.

Haniyeh was assassinated in an attack on his residence in the early hours of Wednesday in the Iranian capital Tehran, where he had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s newly-elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, a day earlier.

Separately on Thursday, Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that the government had sought an explanation from Meta, noting that it was not clear whether the post was automatically blocked, or taken down following a complaint.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has designated Hamas as a “dangerous organization” and removes content praising the resistance group.

Malaysia has previously complained to Meta Platforms over removal of content, including local media coverage of Anwar’s last meeting with Haniyeh, which was later restored.

Iranian authorities announced that rigorous investigations have been launched into the targeted killing of Haniyeh in Tehran and the results will subsequently be released. The Islamic Republic has declared three days of national mourning for the loss of the Palestinian resistance leader.

Palestinian groups have already condemned his assassination in the strongest terms, vowing to make those behind the assassination pay the price of the heinous act.