KUALA LUMPUR – PAS is expecting some 5,000 attendees at the Palestine solidarity gathering scheduled for this Friday.
Party central committee member Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi also called upon Malaysians from all races and religions to join the gathering.
He said that the event in the Klang Valley would take place at the National Mosque after Friday prayers, while mosques nationwide have also been urged to organise their own solidarity gatherings.
“The conflict in Palestine transcends religious boundaries, it has become a humanitarian issue. Everyone is welcome to participate,” he said.
“After the gathering, we will head to Parliament to attend the Budget 2024 announcement on the same day. Additionally, we have designated approximately 150 members of our Youth wing as the secretariat for the gathering to assist the authorities on Friday.”
Khalil added that the gathering is being organised alongside several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the Al-Quds Malaysia Foundation, PAS’ Humanitarian Affairs and Relief Centre (PASRelief), and My Aqsa Defender.
PAS Relief director Yusni Mat Piah said that the party has launched #AidForPalestine2.0 to raise funds for Palestinian assistance, aiming to cooperate with around 150 NGOs in fundraising efforts.
He also said that PASRelief has already donated RM100,000 in emergency funds to aid Palestinians. In addition to the solidarity gathering, the opposition party plans to organise solat hajat (special prayers) and munajat (supplications) for the Palestinians.
During the press conference, Al-Quds Malaysia Foundation chief operating officer Sharif Abu Shammalah said that the support shown for Palestinians extends beyond donations and solidarity.
“We believe that our ummah (Islamic community) will not abandon their brothers and sisters who are currently at war defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque against our enemies,” he said.
“We also believe that the Al-Aqsa Flood (war campaign) will grow, as this marks the first time a Palestinian group has entered their occupied land in an attempt to liberate it.”
The recent surge in violence followed a surprise attack by Hamas last Saturday, involving dozens of fighters infiltrating an Israeli city near the coastal enclave amid intense rocket fire.
The objective of Hamas’ Operation Al-Aqsa Flood is to end Israeli “violations”.
In response, the Israeli army initiated Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, leading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare that “we are at war.” – October 10, 2023