SEREMBAN: Malaysia is prepared to accept 15 Palestinians who were released from Israeli jails and resettle them here, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The Foreign Minister said Malaysia, which had been supporting the Palestinian struggle for decades, has decided on as the resettlement of these prisoners to other countries as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas which took effect on Jan 19.
"One of the conditions of the ceasefire and exchange of hostages deal is that some of the Palestinians released from Israeli jails will not be allowed to return to Gaza.
"Some of these Palestinians whom I categorise as freedom fighters have been languishing in Israeli jails for up to 30 years.
"This (accepting them) is our small contribution to ensure peace in Gaza," he said when met at the closing of the Khatam Al-Quran event organised by the Pekerti (Association of Wives of Barisan Nasional elected representatives and senior state government officials) to mark Nuzul Quran.
Also present was Pekerti chairman Raja Datin Seri Salbiah Tengku Nujumuddin.
Mohamad said as a responsible member of the international community, this was also Malaysia's contribution for a permanent peace solution in Palestine.
"Accepting 15 freedom fighters, I believe, will not be a burden to us.
"Some countries like Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt have accepted millions (Palestinian refugees)," he said
Mohamad said Turkey and Egypt have agreed to take in the bulk of these prisoners. Other member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) like Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia will also be taking part.
He expressed hope that Malaysians, who had always been sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, would welcome the "freedom fighters" as Malaysia has been one of the major nations fiercely raising concerns over the mass killings in Palestine and the need for long-lasting peace.
Citing an example, he said Wisma Putra alone has raised RM99mil to help the Palestinians of which RM67mil has already been disbursed.
"Please do not say that we are providing milk to the monkeys in the forests when there are hungry Malaysians in our midst.
"We are merely carrying out our duty as a responsible member of the international community," he said.
Mohamad said if all goes well, the Palestinians would be arriving here soon.
He said in 2016, Malaysia had also accepted 300 Syrian immigrants on humanitarian grounds after some four million Syrian refugees fled into neighboring countries since the start of a civil war there in 2011.
"We are a peaceful, independent and neutral nation and this has been the foundation of our foreign policy since Merdeka.
"As Foreign Minister, I will continue to raise the Palestinian problem during my engagements abroad till an independent and free Palestine is formed.
"We need to continue with this policy to bring an end to crimes against humanity and genocide (in Palestine),"he added.
On March 16, it was reported that some 15 exiled Palestinian prisoners recently released from Israeli prisons had arrived in Turkiye.
The report said the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza saw Israel release some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, including over 270 serving life terms in connection with the murders of dozens of Israelis.
