Tehran, Aug 20 (IANS): Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim criticised some Western states for their media and arms support for Israel against the people of Gaza.

They also highlighted the need for greater unity among and coordinated action by Muslim states to counter Israel in Gaza, stressing that the holding of a summit of the heads of state of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation would be an effective action in line with those ends.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip had risen to 40,139, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Monday.

The two sides underscored the importance of fostering unity and coherence among Muslim states to fight the crimes of Israel and end the genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Israel launched its campaign of military operations in Gaza on October 7, 2023, after Palestinian resistance groups conducted surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm into the occupied territories.

The Israeli regime has imposed a near-total siege on the coastal territory, significantly reducing the flow of food, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian region to a trickle.