MRC Urges All Parties To Strive For Immediate Ceasefire, End Conflict In Gaza

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) has urged all parties to strive for an immediate ceasefire and end the conflict in Gaza, in line with the International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

Its secretary-general, Datuk Danial Iskandar Abdul Rahman, said the continuing conflict has brought massive suffering and, as such, it is extremely vital that humanitarian aid be channelled to the people without delay or blockade.

"MRC calls on all governments and the international community to boost diplomatic efforts to end the conflicts, protect civilians and humanitarian workers, as well as uphold the humanitarian principles even in times of conflict.

"The MRC remains committed to its mission of alleviating human suffering, upholding human dignity, as well as promoting peace through principled humanitarian action,” he said in a statement today.

The MRC, he said, also expressed its appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and all parties for striving to ensure the release of all 23 Malaysian volunteers in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) humanitarian mission, who were detained by the Zionist regime's troops.

Danial Iskandar said the MRC also appreciated the support from all parties and its international partners involved in the humanitarian initiative.

"Although the release of the Malaysian volunteers is a positive development, the MRC is concerned with the detention of hundreds of activists and humanitarian workers from various countries, who were also on board the same flotilla that was intercepted on Oct 2 while trying to send aid to Gaza,” he added. 

He said that, as such, the MRC calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all volunteers still in detention, stressing that humanitarian workers and civilians must be protected at all times and be allowed to safely carry out their tasks.

On Thursday (Oct 2), the 23 Malaysian activists who joined the GSF mission were detained by the Zionist regime's troops after their vessels were intercepted in international waters near the R3 red zone of the Mediterranean Sea before being taken to the Port of Ashdod in Israel.

Among the 23 detained Malaysians were singer Heliza Helmi and her sister, Nur Hazwani Afiqah, who were aboard the Hio; Nurfarahin Romli and Danish Nazran Murad (Grande Blu); singer Zizi Kirana (Huga); Musa Nuwayri, Iylia Balqis and Sul Aidil (Alma); Haikal Abdullah, Muaz Zainal, Zulfadhli Khiduddin and Rusydi Ramli (Sirius).

The remaining individuals were Razali Awang (Inana); influencer Nurul Hidayah Mohd Amin, also known as Ardell Aryana (Mikeno); PU Rahmat, Norhelmi Ab Ghani, Mohd Asmawi Mukhtar and Norazman Ishak (Estrella); Zainal Rashid and Ustaz Muhammad (Fair Lady); as well as Muhammad Hareez Adzrami (also known as Haroqs), Muhd Haikal Luqman Zulkefli and Taufiq Mohd Razif (Free Willy).

The GSF, comprising over 500 activists from 45 countries, had embarked on a voyage towards Gaza as a gesture of solidarity and an effort to break the Israeli blockade by carrying vital food and medical supplies for Palestinians affected by the Zionist regime's continuous attacks.

-- BERNAMA