Saturday November 17, 2012

Group protests against Israeli raids on Gaza at US Embassy

Shout for peace: Protesters marching towards the US Embassy at Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of people staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the United States' embassy to protest Israel's recent military attacks against civilians in Gaza.

The group included members from the Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram), Pertubuhan Himpunan Lepasan Institusi Pendidikan Malaysia and Aqsa Syarif and the public.

Marching from the Tabung Haji building to the embassy, they assembled at 1.50pm for about 40 minutes outside the embassy, carrying banners and posters declaring “End Gaza Killing”, “Boycott Goods of Israel and Allies” and “Crush Israel”.

Ikram deputy president Dr Mohamed Hatta Shaharom said the gathering was to protest against the recent Israeli military raids on Gaza.

The Israeli air raids in Gaza over the past two days had taken the lives of 21 Palestinians, including six children and a pregnant woman.

Meanwhile, in Bangi, Islamic Relief Malaysia urged Malaysians to support the Gaza Emergency Medical Aid Fund set up to channel medical assistance directly to the victims of the Israeli military raids.

Its country director Zairulshahfuddin Zainal Abidin said the Islamic Relief network aimed to collect some US$1mil (about RM3.07mil) worldwide to provide medical and other supplies for hospitals in Gaza.

Donations can be sent in the name of “Islamic Relief Malaysia” to the Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) account number 1202 90100 6564 3, Malayan Banking Berhad (MBB) account number 5621 4270 8704 or the CIMB Bank account number 1259 0000 804 058.

In a related development, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has received a telephone call from Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to discuss the latest Israeli military assaults and air strikes in Gaza.

In the 15-minute conversation yesterday, both of them expressed their desire to work closely to end the current violence in Gaza, said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

Both countries also agreed to get international power brokers to influence Israel to stop its military aggression, it said.

Najib and Morsi also urged Hamas to refrain from any action that would further escalate the conflict. - Bernama

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