MYCARE CONTINUES TO PRESSURE ISRAEL TO IMPLEMENT PEACE PLAN WITH HAMAS

SEPANG, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysian humanitarian organisation, Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) will continue to play an active role in pressuring Israel to implement the recently agreed peace plan with Hamas.

MyCARE chief executive officer Kamarul Zaman Shaharul Anwar said the organisation will closely monitor developments on the matter from time to time.

“We know that Israel tends to overrule any agreement, even those made at the United Nations level. So, we’ll see how it goes (regarding the Hamas-Israel peace plan),” he said today.

He spoke to Bernama at the homecoming ceremony for nine Malaysian activists who participated in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition - Thousand Madleens to Gaza (FFC x TMTG) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Kamarul Zaman said the MyCARE team has begun preparations to deliver aid to Gaza following the peace plan, adding that the organisation's strategic partners are assessing the specific needs of the people there.

He said the presence of United States President Donald Trump at the 47th ASEAN Summit this month is an opportunity for the Malaysian government and ASEAN to ensure that the peace plan is properly implemented.

“One good thing is that with Trump coming over (to the 47th ASEAN Summit), there's another area that the government can push, not only the Malaysian government, but also ASEAN. It's an ASEAN event. These governments can push for Trump to push Israel, to ensure Israel keeps to its word and fulfills its promises,” he said.

International media reported that on Wednesday, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of the Gaza peace plan proposed by the United States.

Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas have been taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, since Monday to discuss Trump’s plan to end the conflict.

The 20-point plan, announced on Sept 29, outlines the release of Israeli prisoners in Gaza, a ceasefire, and the disarmament of Hamas. The Palestinian group has principally agreed to the plan.

Meanwhile, a Malaysian activist who participated in the FFC x TMTG mission, Dr Fauziah Mohd Hassan, said that sustained pressure from communities nationwide, including through the flotilla mission, has yielded a positive impact.

“On the surface, it may appear that we failed, but we know a ceasefire took place while we were detained… perhaps it was a coincidence, but it could also be the outcome of pressure from various countries.

“Our ship carried representatives from 22 countries, and through this flotilla, we witnessed people worldwide rising, not only in major cities but also in smaller towns, to pressure their governments to support Gaza,” she said.

Dr Fauziah and eight other Malaysian activists, who were detained by Israeli forces on Oct 8, arrived in Malaysia at 4.01 pm.

The FFC x TMTG humanitarian mission involved about 150 activists from 25 countries, sailing on nine vessels, including the Conscience and Umm Saad. The ships were intercepted by Israeli forces last Wednesday, less than 120 nautical miles from Gaza, and redirected to Ashdod Port. The activists were then transferred to Ketziot prison in Negev, Israel.

The eight Malaysians on board the Conscience were Malaysian delegation head Prof Emeritus Dr Mohd Alauddin, Dr Fauziah, Dr Hafiz Sulaiman, Dr Ili Syakira Mohd Suhaimi, Prof Dr Mohd Afandi Salleh, Dr Noorhasyimah Ismail, Norsham Abu Bakar, and Astro Awani journalist Syafik Shukri Abdul Jalil, while Dr Maziah Muhammad, another medical doctor, was aboard the Umm Saad.

-- BERNAMA