Malaysia's KP1M Mission A "Great" Mission - Palestinian Envoy

By Azzah Mohamad Som KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- The 1Malaysia Putera Club (KP1M) Humanitarian Aid Mission to Gaza has not only succeeded in delivering food and medical supplies to victims of the Israeli aggression, but also reinforced the Malaysian government's solidarity with the people of Palestine. Palestinian envoy Dr Anwar H. Al Agha (left), in describing the mission as a "great" one, said that it succeeded in "showing and expressing the solidarity of the Malaysian government and people to our brothers and sisters in Palestine, particularly in Gaza." In an interview with Bernama recently, he said that despite the obstacles faced, KP1M President Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and his delegation did a great job. During the mission only Abdul Azeez, the Malaysian Ambassador to Palestine and Egypt Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari and Dr Anwar, who also accompanied the mission, were allowed to enter Gaza by the Egyptian government. Dr Anwar explained that the delegation had faced some difficulties and obstacles in entering Gaza to deliver 40 tonnes of food and medical aid. "We were having difficulties and obstacles to reach Gaza due to the situation in Cairo but we would like to thank the Egyptian government for facilitating this," the envoy said. The three members of the team finally entered Gaza through the Rafah border on Aug 16. The humanitarian team, which also comprised some 85 volunteers, doctors and media practitioners, left Malaysia for Cairo on Aug 13 and returned to Malaysia on Aug 23. It was reported that the Egyptian government granted permission to enter Gaza, through the assistance of Prime Minister Najib Razak, after several attempts by the KP1M secretariat failed. Dr Anwar thanked the Malaysian government and people and the various organisations for their support to the Palestinian cause and especially mentioned Najib's role. "Najib was very keen right from the very beginning to give instructions to help Palestinian brothers and sisters and to show all the solidarity needed from Malaysia for our Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza," he said. The ambassador to Malaysia said that having seen the mass destruction in Gaza, especially in Shajaia, Bait Hanun, Rafah, Deir El Balah, Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya and al-Garara, he could only describe it as "the most brutal occupation forces in the world that we have seen." International reports said that currently, all is calm in Gaza after a long-term ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians took place on Tuesday night after 51-days of violence starting July 8 when Israel commenced Operation Protective Edge to stop cross-border rocket fire. The war, which some observers have described as senseless, resulted in the death of 2,143 Palestinians while around 11,000 others, mostly women and children, had been injured in the Israeli relentless attacks. According to the United Nations, nearly 70 per cent of the Palestinian victims were civilians, while 64 out of the 70 Israelis killed were soldiers. The Palestinian Health Ministry said that the Palestinian fatalities included 578 children, 261 women and 102 elderly people. (photoBERNAMA) --BERNAMA