Malaysia to Accept 15 Palestinian Fighters as Part of Ceasefire Agreement

Malaysia is set to accept 15 Palestinian fighters released by Israel, aligning with its support for Palestinian independence. Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan emphasized the decision’s humanitarian aspect, highlighting ongoing negotiations for their resettlement. He urged for positive interpretation among Malaysians regarding this initiative.

On March 18, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan announced the country’s readiness to accept 15 Palestinian freedom fighters released by Israel as part of a Gaza ceasefire agreement. This initiative reflects Malaysia’s longstanding support for Palestine’s struggle for independence, which the minister asserts will not impose any burden on the nation.

The minister emphasized that these 15 fighters, who have experienced detention in Israel for up to 30 years without trial, will not be returning to Palestine post-release. “We are participating in peace efforts as part of the ceasefire deal initiated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States,” he stated.

During a launch event for the Khatam al-Quran, Mohamad, also an MP for Rembau, revealed that negotiations are in progress and a team has been dispatched to identify those eligible for resettlement in Malaysia, though exact locations have not been finalized. He compares the process to that of resettling Syrian refugees at the onset of the Syrian conflict, who have successfully integrated into Malaysian society.

Furthermore, he urged the Malaysian populace to refrain from misinterpreting this decision or holding negative views towards it, underscoring that accepting these fighters falls within the scope of international obligations. He cited the Humanitarian Trust Fund for Palestinians, which has raised RM99 million, to highlight the nation’s generosity, questioning, “So what is accepting 15 people compared to that?”

In summary, Malaysia’s decision to accept 15 Palestinian fighters released by Israel reinforces its commitment to supporting Palestine’s independence while fulfilling international responsibilities. The resettlement process will be handled with care, reflecting past experiences with Syrian refugees, and aims to integrate these individuals into the Malaysian community, which has shown significant generosity towards humanitarian causes.

Original Source: www.malaymail.com