Free Gaza Movement Invites Malaysian MPs To Join Mission

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- The Free Gaza Movement human rights group has invited Malaysian members of parliament to join its next mission in mid-October to ship aid to Gaza to break Israel's blockade on territory and its 1.5 million population.

The movement's chairperson Huwaida Arraf said they intend to embark on the coming mission from a port in Cyprus as it is closer to Gaza, and send books and publications, which are not allowed into Gaza by Israel.

"I hope and welcome as many (MPs) as possible. The public with their own boats can also join us," she told reporters after briefing a group of MPs at Parliament today

The organization had undertaken five such missions successfully between August and December last year, carrying goods such as foodstuff and medicines.

Another three attempts had to be aborted due to Israel's use of force to stop them.

Huwaida said if high profile people such as MPs joined their mission, it would be very hard for Israel to stop the ships or to use force because of the global political ramifications.

Palestine-born Huwaida said the siege had rendered the Palestinian people in Gaza without access and necessary connections to the outside world for their economy and livelihood, thus forcing them to depend on charity.

"We don't want to live on handouts (forever). By just giving money or aid is not helping (very much) as not all reaches Gaza because of the siege. We seek to break the siege so that the people will get access to the outside world and can build their economy and Israel's deliberate policy to impose a blockade can be weakened and confronted," she said.

"More importantly, by undertaking such missions we are sending a message to the people of Gaza that they are not being abandoned. The people and the world community are willing to stand up to resist the blockade," she said.

So far about 16 MPs from countries such as Italy, Ireland, Britain, Greece, Cyprus and Palestine had joined hands in the missions to Gaza, and for the next mission, MPs from Europe as well as from some Arab countries had shown interest to come in.

Huwaida said that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Wednesday had launched the Gaza Fund to raise money to purchase a cargo boat, estimated to cost 300,000 Euros (RM1.5 million) to transport aid to Gaza, while another 200,000 Euros (RM1 million) was needed to purchase an accompanying passenger ship.