GAZA FUND LAUNCHED TO HELP PALESTINIANS IN GAZA

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today launched the Gaza Fund to raise money to purchase a cargo boat to transport aid to Gaza.

He said there was urgency in raising funds for the purchase of the vessel because with winter approaching, the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza would worsen.

He also welcomed Malaysians to volunteer and join the effort since they needed as much participation as possible.

"Of course, there is limitation in terms of the capacity on board.

"But we want to carry building materials as we need to rebuild the houses, because they (Palestinians) are now living in tents and when winter comes, it will be terrible for the old, sick and children. Many of them may die because of the winter," he told reporters at the Perdana Leadership Foundation, here, today.

Also present were his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, chairman of the Free Gaza Movement Huwaida Arraf and trustee of Yayasan Salam Datuk Ahmad A. Talib.

Mahathir also announced that the prime minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is the patron of the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund, donated RM1.5 million to the Gaza Fund.

It also received another RM100,000 from individuals and companies after the launching.

"I think we need about RM3.5 milion to buy the boat. Beyond that, of course we need to buy supplies, construction materials and other things so that they can rebuild their city," he said.

Asked whether boycotting Israel could be one of the solutions, Mahathir said: "Boycotting Israel is nothing because its capacity is quite small but it is the country behind Israel, and that is America.

"America has lots of products all over the world and whether we like it or not, people have to buy, and the attempt to boycott American products had not been successful.

"People still want to drink Coca-Cola, so they just don't respond (to the campaign). I think that's not a very good strategy, but this (Gaza Fund) is something really worthwhile and hopefully, it can open the eyes of the world."

Meanwhile, Huwaida said their next mission to Gaza would be in early October before the winter season and the movement hoped that people around the world would stand with the Palestinians.

"We are concerned about the human rights of the Palestinian people. We need to supply the materials to allow them to rebuild their lives," she said.