KUALA NERUS, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The announcement of a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip has given fresh hope to participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission to resume their efforts in delivering aid to the people there.
Muhammad Abdullah, 32, better known as Ustaz Mad Kecik, said the positive development has strengthened his confidence that future opportunities to enter Gaza will be more promising.
“We now see a brighter chance to enter Gaza by land. InsyaAllah, if we can get in, may all 23 of us be able to return and continue helping the people of Palestine. If we cannot go by sea, we will try to go by land.
“That was our aim from the start, but the land route was blocked by Israel, forcing us to use the sea route previously — which was also blocked,” he told reporters when met at Sultan Mahmud Airport (LTSM) here today.
Muhammad, together with another GSF participant from Terengganu, Mohd Asmawi Mukhtar, 52, arrived at LTSM from Kuala Lumpur to a rousing welcome by over 1,000 people, including family members, friends and supporters from Terengganu.
Earlier, international media reported that Israel and Hamas had signed the first phase of a Gaza peace agreement allowing the release of all Israeli hostages.
Muhammad, who founded a Quranic school in Kampung Dura, Hulu Terengganu, expressed hope that the nine Malaysian activists from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (FFC x TMTG) missions detained by the Zionist regime yesterday would soon return home safely, just as he and his 22 fellow participants had.
He also urged the public to continue spreading awareness about the suffering endured by the people of Gaza as a result of Israeli aggression.
“If we stop talking about it, it means we have given victory to the enemy. So never stop — keep speaking up for the sake of humanity, religion and our people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Asmawi, who was deeply moved by the warm reception from the people of Terengganu, said that despite facing great hardship since the start of the voyage and during their detention by Israeli forces, he remains determined to continue helping the people of Gaza.
“It was a real test of mental strength right from the beginning of the voyage, but Ustaz Mad (Muhammad) kept encouraging us and shared prayers through our WhatsApp group. That gave me the strength I needed when I was close to giving up,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
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