January 05, 2011 19:28 PM
Newly-Wed Malaysian Happy To Be In Palestinian Aid Convoy
By Saleh Hasan
GAZA, Jan 5 (Bernama) — A newly-married Malaysian is thankful to Allah (God) for realising his dream to be here as part of the ‘Asia 1′ aid convoy, as the Palestinian authorities in this besieged enclave honoured their attempt to break the Israeli blockade.
Twenty-four-year old Muhammed Zakaria said the aim of his visit to Gaza was to support the Palestinian cause.
“I say to my family in Malaysia that we are very happy here to help our Muslim brothers in Gaza.
“All praise is due to Allah because He (helped me to) achieve my ambition to be here,” he told Bernama at a welcoming ceremony by senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at his office here Tuesday.
Muhammed, who married a month and a half ago, said his wife was happy with what he was doing.
The 112-member convoy, bringing food, medicines and children’s toys, arrived here Monday — a month after starting its long trip from India on Dec 2. Gaza has been under Israeli blockade since four years ago, after Hamas came into power.
The siege consists of a land blockade along Gaza’s borders with Egypt and Israel, and a sea blockade.
Muhammed said he arrived in Gaza with another Malaysian man to provide the narrow enclave with seven projects, including pediatric hospital, rehabilitation centre for traumatic children and education twinship between Gaza and Kuala Lumpur.
The projects will be implemented by the authorities in Gaza and the two men hope to return to Gaza next April to supervise the implementation process.
“I hope the Palestinians will not be afraid of Israel. We are Muslims and we will keep supporting you by all means we have,” said Muhammed.
Indonesian television correspondent Anna Diara said she was lucky to be in Gaza to make a documentary for her station.
“Our trip was very interesting…however, I thought there would be many victims during this journey as what happened to the Freedom Flotilla,” she said, referring to the Lifeline4 Gaza Flotilla which was attacked in international waters by Israeli forces last May 31.
Anna, 29, said her television station manager had chosen her to join the convoy because of her experience, having worked in Lebanon to produce a movie about the Palestinian refugees there.
Another participant, 32-year-old Youssef Ali Mirage, a Pakistani, resolved to take his wife and his three young sons along with him in the convoy to show his support for the Palestinian resistance against Israel.
While honouring members of the ‘Asia 1′ convoy, Haniyeh said these convoys strengthened the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and weakened the Israeli embargo.
“These convoys should continue until the siege is lifted,” he said.
– BERNAMA