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PETALING JAYA: Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has apologised for shouting "Hidup Israel" during a speech at the Palestine solidarity rally in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

"In the enthusiastic and spirited atmosphere earlier, I apologise for any mistakes in my speech, but this sincere heart remains fervent in proclaiming: free Palestine, long live Palestine, independent Palestine!" he said in an Instagram post today.

Some 12,000 people had gathered for the rally yesterday, waving the flags of Malaysia and Palestine while chanting: "Long live Palestine!" and "Free Palestine!"

The rally featured speeches about the history and development of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict from various NGO leaders.

It also included mass maghrib prayers, followed by speeches from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu, human resources minister Steven Sim, and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul.

On Thursday, Anwar said the rally was meant to send a strong message to the world that Malaysia condemns the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an explosion in Iran on July 31.