Meta Platforms issued an apology on Tuesday for mistakenly removing social media posts by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The posts expressed condolences to a Hamas official regarding the death of the group's leader, Ismail Haniyeh.

A Meta spokesperson told Reuters that the removal was due to "an operational error" and that the content had been restored with "the correct newsworthy label." The U.S. social media company classifies Hamas as a "dangerous organization" and prohibits content that praises the group. It employs a combination of automated detection and human review to manage such content.

Anwar's posts, made on Facebook and Instagram on July 31, included a video recording of his phone call with a Hamas official to offer condolences, as well as a picture from his last meeting with Haniyeh in Qatar in May, accompanied by a condolence message.

This incident marks the second conflict between Meta and the Malaysian government, which criticized the removal of the posts as unjust, discriminatory, and a suppression of free speech. Malaysia's communications minister and members of the Prime Minister's Office met with Meta representatives on Monday to seek clarification.

In a similar situation in May, Meta restored Facebook posts by Anwar after they were mistakenly taken down for his meeting with Haniyeh.

Muslim-majority Malaysia, a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, has warned that firm action could be taken against Meta and other social media companies if they block pro-Palestinian content on their platforms.