Protest against Gaza attacks

Hundreds of people gathered at separate locations nationwide to protest against the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip that have killed more than 400 Palestinians.

Barisan Nasional Youth representatives, led by its deputy chairman Khairy Jamaluddin, turned up in full force at the Palestinian Embassy here yesterday with other non-governmental and youth organisations to denounce the attacks.

They were part of the Coalition Against Israeli Aggression, which submitted a memorandum of support to Palestinian Ambassador Abd ElAziz Abu Ghoush.

“The brutal massacre of the Palestinians, including women and children, by the Israeli military has reminded the world of the urgency to bring a just solution for the Palestinian people, guaranteeing their sovereignty, security and well-being,” the memorandum stated.

Khairy said a special Palestinian fund had been set up to help those affected by the humanitarian crisis and handed over a mock cheque for RM100,000 to Abd ElAziz to kick-start the fund.

“This is a humanitarian issue which transcends religion. This is about the dignity and freedom

of the Palestinian people,” said Khairy.

Representatives from the MCA, MIC, Gerakan and PPP were also at the embassy, as was a group of Palestinians who carried several banners calling for an end to the killing.

Earlier, there was a commotion when Abd ElAziz called on several non-Malaysian Palestinian supporters to stop holding up pictures of leaders of different Palestinian factions during the protest.

“It is time to unite as one Palestine, across political lines and factions. The killings are affecting all Pales-tinians and does not distinguish between Hamas or Fatah or other factions,” he added.


MCA national youth international affairs bureau chairman Dr Toh Kian Kok said they supported the protest as “we are against any form of violence, and discord should be solved in an amicable manner.”

Meanwhile, Pakatan Rakyat urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to initiate an emergency seating of Parliament to table a motion condemning the Israel attack.

PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, representing the coalition, said the Prime Minister, who is the former Organisation of the Islamic Conference chairman, should take pro-active action in the wake of the Israel aggression.

“We are also disappointed with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for not taking strong action against Israel, “ he said at a ga­­thering at the National Mosque yesterday.

In George Town, more than 200 people staged a peaceful gathering in front of the Kapitan Keling Mosque to condemn the attack.

Similar gatherings were also held at mosques in Kampung Jawa, Sungai Gelugor and Dato Kramat.

In Johor Baru, some 100 protesters gathered at the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque to condemn the aggres-sion.

In Kota Kinabalu, more than a hundred people staged a brief demonstration within the grounds of the city mosque to protest against the attacks.

- The Star