ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor state government has condemned the Israeli air strikes on Friday (Dec 1) shortly after the week-long truce with Hamas collapsed, which saw 184 people killed.
Johor state assembly Speaker Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said that the truce was nothing more than a facade by the Israeli forces to get Hamas to release their hostages.
“We strongly condemn this attack by the Zionist regime, which has killed 184 people, including children.
“The Johor state government also calls upon the international committee to condemn this attack, and at this critical time, any further loss of life and destruction should stop, and all humanitarian efforts should be established immediately,” he said during a speech at the state assembly in Kota Iskandar here on Sunday (Dec 3).
Meanwhile, Johor Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid informed that the state government has handed over more than RM2.5mil worth of contributions for the Palestinian cause to the Malaysian Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra).
He added that members of the public are also advised to ensure that their donations are channelled through a legitimate bank account.
“Although the fund managed by the state government has been closed, we will still continue to receive donations from members of the public that are directly handed over to Wisma Putra.
“We will continue to do so to ensure that all of their contributions reach the Palestinians,” he said.
Earlier, Reuters reported that fighting in Gaza stretched into a second day on Saturday (Dec 2) after talks to extend a week-old truce with Hamas collapsed and mediators said Israeli bombardments were complicating attempts to again pause hostilities.
