Just want peace: Some of the Palestinians reacting after arriving at the Subang Air Base. — FAIHAN GHANI/ The Star
SUBANG: A group of 127 Palestinians, including 41 injured from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, has safely arrived in Malaysia.
The Palestinians were flown in by two Royal Malaysian Air Force A400M aircraft from Cairo, Egypt, arriving at the Subang Air Base between 2pm and 2.30pm yesterday.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the mission was undertaken on humanitarian grounds and to demonstrate Malaysia’s solidarity with the Palestinian people.
“After verifying their identities and ensuring they were fit for travel, we identified 41 patients – 20 males and 21 females aged from eight months to 62 years old – to receive medical treatment here.
“We also brought 86 family members, as many of the patients were children and the elderly,” he said.
Mohamed Khaled added that the two aircraft transported the Palestinians from Almaza Air Base in Egypt, with the journey including a 13-hour flight and a transit stop in Karachi, Pakistan.
Upon arrival, the 41 patients were initially diagnosed at a field hospital at the Subang Air Base before being transferred to the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital in Wangsa Maju for further care.
Three wards at the hospital will be dedicated to treating the injured Palestinians.
“We have planned this mission for some time, but we needed approval from the Egyptian government and also had to consider various options,” said Mohamed Khaled.
“Six countries have expressed their intentions to bring injured Palestinians to their respective counties and Malaysia is the fifth country to successfully do so,” he said.
Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali expressed deep gratitude to the Malaysian government.
“Malaysia is the first Asian country to host injured Palestinians. Words cannot fully convey my gratitude towards Malaysia.
“Thank you to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his commitment,” he said, adding that he hoped the Palestinians would come to see Malaysia as a second home.
Egyptian Ambassador to Malaysia Ragai Nasr praised the collaboration as a culmination of the wonderful relationship between Anwar and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
“Both the Egyptian government and I will support Malaysia in assisting Palestine,” he affirmed.
On Aug 4, Anwar condemned the cruelty and atrocities committed by the Israeli regime, and announced Malaysia’s willingness to offer refuge to vulnerable Palestinians, namely the wounded, women and children.
