Dr M among hundreds in rally for Palestine

LUMPUR: Groups of people gathered at several locations in the city to show solidarity with Palestine.

They carried Palestinian flags and wore attire featuring the colours of the flag.

Most of them began gathering at Bukit Bintang, Masjid KLCC and Masjid Ibnu Mas’ud in Kampung Datuk Keramat from 1pm yesterday.

They then walked towards the US Embassy at Jalan Tun Razak, causing traffic there to momentarily come to a halt.

The demonstrators chanted slogans denouncing Israel and the United States. They stopped at a police barricade about 200m away from the embassy.

Among politicians present were former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Muafakat Nasional chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

Addressing the crowd, Abdul Hadi said the world is aware about the atrocities occurring in Gaza and the West Bank.

“Let us rise together,” he said, urging all to be in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Lauding the Palestinians’ resilience, Dr Mahathir said: “They want to protect their land. They chose to stay there even though they face ... the possibility of death.”

“We cannot accept any effort by any racial group to seize land belonging to others,” he said.

The gathering dispersed peacefully at 4.18pm after a prayer.