KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and leaders from Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional attended a gathering here today to show solidarity for the Palestinian people.
PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and PKR Youth chief Adam Adli were seen outside the National Mosque here after Friday prayers to show their support.
It is estimated that about 5,000 people were at the gathering, with many carrying banners and posters condemning violence in the Middle East and supporting the rights of the Palestinian people.
Chants such as “Free Palestine” were heard echoing throughout the area.
Mahathir blamed the latest conflict on the “decades of oppression” by Israel against the people of Palestine.
“We express our opposition to the extraordinary oppression carried out against the Palestinian people.
“Seventy-five years ago, they took away Palestinian land to establish Israel. Not satisfied, they continued to take more land,” he said at the event.
“It’s not just about seizing land, the people of Palestine are subjected to torture, murder, imprisonment, and long detentions.
“Hamas did what they did due to decades of oppression (by Israel).”
A war between Israel and Hamas broke out on Saturday following a surprise attack by Hamas within Israel that led to Tel Aviv pounding the Gaza Strip with 6,000 bombs.
The United Nations (UN) yesterday said that more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, the majority of them civilians, were reportedly killed, and more than 3,000 wounded.
Reports suggest that more than 100 Israelis and foreign nationals, including children and older persons, and some known human rights defenders, have been taken hostage in Gaza by Hamas.
The UN reported that as a result of the Israeli attacks against Gaza, by air, land and sea, at least 1,100 Palestinians have been killed, including older persons and 290 children, and more than 5,000 injured.
The airstrikes appear to have targeted densely populated areas, including markets, two hospitals and residential buildings, and damaged 20 UN facilities, including schools sheltering displaced civilians.
As of Wednesday, the UN estimated that at least 340,000 people have been displaced within Gaza, and nearly 218,600 people are sheltering in 92 UN schools across the Gaza Strip. - FMT
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