KUALA LUMPUR – Almost 1,000 people joined the solidarity with Palestine gathering in Jalan Tun Razak here after today’s Friday prayers.
With Palestinian flags and anti-Israel banners, they made their way to the US Embassy here, only to be stopped by a police barricade set up some 100m away from the building’s main entrance.
Aside from local political parties, the gathering was organised alongside several non-governmental organisations, including the Al-Quds Malaysia Foundation, PAS’ Humanitarian Affairs and Relief Centre, and My Aqsa Defender, to protest the violence in the Gaza Strip.
Despite being stopped by police outside the embassy, five representatives were allowed into the premises to submit a memorandum protesting the US’ provision of military aid to Israel.
One of the representatives – Malaysia Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid – expressed his frustration when the demonstrators were stopped from entering the embassy.
“This is proof of the US’ arrogance towards Malaysians. Prior to this, we could enter, but today we are left waiting outside. If they can do this in Malaysia, they don’t care what they are doing to Palestine,” he claimed.
PAS, which expected some 5,000 attendees at the Palestine solidarity gathering, said it was organised alongside several non-governmental organisations, including the Al-Quds Malaysia Foundation, PAS’ Humanitarian Affairs and Relief Centre, and My Aqsa Defender.
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 13, 2023