KUALA LUMPUR: The rally for Gaza planned on Sunday (Aug 24) will see the participation of Members of Parliament, who are also calling on Malaysians to join in solidarity with Palestinians.
Government Backbenchers Club chief Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, who is also Paya Besar MP, said invitations to the “Perhimpunan Bersamamu Gaza and 1000 Flotilla Nusantara Break the Siege” at Dataran Merdeka had been extended to all MPs.
“So far 30 MPs have confirmed their participation, but more are expressing interest,” he told a press conference at Parliament here on Thursday (Aug 21).
Shahar said MPs collectively condemned and denounced the crime of genocide and the brutal killing of 239 journalists and media practitioners in Gaza by the Zionist Israeli regime.
He said the systematic targeting of journalists is a deliberate attempt to keep the truth from reaching the international community, and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.
“We express our full support for the initiative of the 1000 Flotilla ‘Break the Siege’ and Sumud Nusantara, a humanitarian solidarity movement spearheaded by Malaysia together with regional and international networks, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the patron, to end the cruel blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza.
“The MPs of Malaysia further express full commitment to assist the Flotilla mission in its goal of breaking the blockade and ensuring that urgent humanitarian aid can reach the people of Gaza without obstruction.
“We also pledge to extend all possible diplomatic and legal efforts to defend the safety of the Flotilla participants.
“Should Israel resort to aggression against the mission, Malaysia will support the necessary international legal and diplomatic action to hold the Israeli regime accountable,” he said.
Shahar urged all MPs, regardless of party lines, to stand united in defence of Palestinian rights, while also calling on the government to press for stronger measures against Israel at the International Criminal Court.
“The voice of the Parliament of Malaysia is the voice of humanity. We stand firm with Palestine,” he added.
Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisations (Mapim) president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, who also leads the Global Coalition for Jerusalem and Palestine, said the 1000 Flotilla “Break the Siege” and Sumud Nusantara mission would set sail on National Day, Aug 31, from Spain and on Sept 4 from Tunisia.
“Forty-four countries have already confirmed participation. We have written to at least 140 governments and some prominent global figures such as Pope Leo XIV, the Dalai Lama, the pastor of Moscow, (UN Secretary-General) Antonio Guterres, the secretary of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and many presidents and prime ministers.
“We want this mission – a non-violent, civilian mission – to be recognised by governments around the world, and to ensure that we are protected.
“We are going to face a very high-risk mission. The probability of being attacked is there, and we want governments to see that unless and until we act to intervene, Gaza will be annihilated.
“We proudly stand with the parliamentarians of Malaysia. We expect to arrive in Gaza on Sept 20,” he said.
