M'SIANS SHOULD SHOW MORE CONCERN FOR PALESTINIANS IN GAZA, SAYS DR M

PUTRAJAYA, July 9 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on
Wednesday called on Malaysians to show more concern towards the plight of
Palestinians in Gaza.

In a press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here, Dr Mahathir
said this reminder was necessary because the world's mainstream media was giving
less attention to the suffering of the people there.

He said they needed all the help they could get and with winter approaching,
their suffering would only get worse if aid like blankets, food and medicine
supplies did not reach them.

He also slammed Israel for blocking aid channeled via Cyprus from reaching
Palestinians in Gaza.

He added that he would be leaving for Cyprus on July 16 to help draw
attention to the dire situation in Gaza.

"This is a humanitarian issue. I hope we (aid groups) can pressure Israel to
lift the blockade on aid reaching Gaza. According to international law, the
action by Israel (in blocking aid) is wrong," he said, adding that US$4 million
in aid had been collected by the international community but could not be
delivered to Gaza because of the Israeli action.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Free Gaza Movement, Huwaida Arraf, who was
also present at the press conference, appealed to Malaysians to support the
movement in its efforts towards alleviating the suffering of Palestinians in
Gaza.

Enquiries or applications to register as volunteers of the Free Gaza
Movement can be made by visiting its website www.freegaza.org.
-- BERNAMA