After "Madeleine," Malaysia seeks to equip 1,000 ships to break the Gaza blockade.

Malaysian civil society organizations have announced their intention to launch the largest naval fleet to break the siege on Gaza. Azmi Abdul Hamid, chairman of the Coordinating Council of Islamic Organizations of Malaysia, said the results of his contacts with bodies and organizations from around the world are very encouraging for the potential deployment of a 1,000-ship fleet.
Abdul Hamid added, at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, that the Madeleine, a ship hijacked by Israeli occupation forces, successfully conveyed its message by highlighting the crimes of genocide and the need for increased action to stop the crimes committed by the occupation authorities.
He emphasized that "Madeleine" has encouraged humanitarian organizations around the world to replicate the Freedom Flotilla experience, but with greater international mobilization, given the enormity of the crime committed by Israel in Gaza.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Abdul Hamid said that preparations are underway to deploy 1,000 ships from around the world, and that the countries to which these ships belong are being asked to protect them. He confirmed that international figures have affirmed their support for the idea of a 1,000-ship fleet.
The organizations sponsoring the second Freedom Flotilla set the movement's objectives as delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip, challenging Israel's violations of international law, and encouraging civil society organizations around the world to take action to "save humanity" and exert peaceful and moral pressure on the illegal occupation authorities to halt their crimes.
The head of the Malaysian Islamic Organisations Coordination Council (MABIM) did not specify the date or location for the second Freedom Flotilla's departure to break the siege on Gaza. He said it would not be merely an aid flotilla, but rather an uprising of human conscience, after political regimes failed to stop the crimes of genocide.

Strengthening the momentum of the movement
Representatives of Malaysian organizations supporting the Palestinian cause praised the "Sumoud" humanitarian land convoy that set sail from Tunisia toward the Gaza Strip. During their first preparatory meeting for the Freedom Flotilla II, they expressed hope that these marches would contribute to maintaining the momentum of the global movement to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip, after countries and international bodies failed to halt Israel's crimes of genocide and starvation against the Palestinian people.
A statement signed by dozens of Malaysian organizations said the 1,000-ship flotilla concept aims to mobilize dozens of ships from every country around the world. These ships will convene in a country near Palestine and then set off together toward the besieged Gaza Strip.
The statement added that the initiative was inspired by the 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla, but it is now on a global scale. It will prompt governments to act to protect their citizens participating in the flotilla, which will in turn spur a global movement against the occupying authorities and their supporters.

This statement specified the fleet's demands as follows:
Immediate lifting of the blockade imposed on Gaza.
Allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.
Providing international protection for the Palestinian people.
Holding the occupation leaders accountable for the crimes of genocide and starvation.
The Coordinating Council of Malaysian Islamic Organisations has prepared to establish a secretariat to coordinate efforts to ensure the success of the 1,000-ship fleet mission and to establish a fund to finance it when needed.
He also called on companies, institutions, and individuals to provide necessary supplies, such as ships and safety and security equipment, organize marches in support of the campaign, and pressure governments to ensure the protection of flotilla participants.

Boycott Israel
On the other hand, Malaysian organizations have called on the government to halt all ties with companies accused of supporting the Israeli occupation of Palestine and of dealing with settlements.
Dozens of activists gathered in front of the Malaysian Investment Corporation building in Kuala Lumpur, demanding that it end its business relationship with Caterpillar, the American company that manufactures the D9 bulldozer used by Israeli forces to destroy Palestinian homes and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Dr. Muhammad Nazri, head of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Malaysia, said that they classify Malaysian companies that deal with those who support the occupation as complicit in Israeli genocide and crimes of genocide. Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, he confirmed that Sime Darby, a subsidiary of the Malaysian Investment Authority, is Caterpillar's largest partner in ASEAN.


Source: Al Jazeera