Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

PETALING JAYA: A group of 127 Palestinians arrived at the Subang air base this evening for medical treatment in Malaysia, courtesy of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

The group comprises 41 patients and 86 of their immediate kin, aged between eight months and 62 years.

Having travelled from Almaza Air Force Base Airport in Egypt on two Airbus A400M aircraft owned by the RMAF, they are among those who had sought shelter in Egypt after escaping Israel’s continued attacks on Palestine, which have claimed more than 40,000 lives.

Speaking to reporters here, defence minister Khaled Nordin said the patients are chronically ill and have mostly suffered trauma and physical injury.

On Aug 4, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia would help treat injured Palestinians. Egyptian ambassador Ragai Nasr was reported as saying his country is currently treating 70,000 Palestinians at 40 hospitals.

Meanwhile, Khaled said the plan to bring Palestinian patients and their kin to Malaysia from Egypt will span two months, taking into account that Israeli attacks may target field hospitals.

"This plan is highly risky, because the Israeli military is indiscriminate (in its attacks)," he said.

Meanwhile, Palestinian ambassador Walid Abu Ali thanked the Malaysian government for agreeing to give Palestinians medical treatment.

"I am certain that the Palestinians who arrive in Malaysia will take it as their second home," he said.