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Wisma Putra coordinates evacuation of Malaysian citizen in Gaza Strip, Palestine

KUALA LUMPUR: The Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) is coordinating the evacuation process of a Malaysian citizen in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the Malaysian citizen, identified as Nurul Ain Haron alongside her husband, had been in Gaza since Oct 1 and was scheduled to depart for the United Arab Emirates (MAE) on Oct 26.

"Based on the latest communication, Nurul Ain and her husband are currently planning to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.

"Following this, the Malaysian embassy in Amman, Jordan, has contacted the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo for assistance.

"However, due to security reasons, details of the current evacuation plan cannot be shared with the public," he told a press conference in Parliament, today.

At the same time, Zambry added that another four Malaysians, Dr Nurul Ain Latiff and her three children who are currently in the West Bank, Palestine, had decided to remain in the area for the time being.

"The Malaysian embassy in Amman has been able to contact Dr Nurul Ain, who is originally from Kota Baru and is married to a Palestinian. The couple has three children, all of whom are Malaysian citizens.

"(And) considering the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into the West Bank, our embassy has also advised Dr Nurul Ain and her family to leave the area while the border to Jordan is still open.

"However, through a message on Oct 11 at 2.15pm local time today, she informed (the embassy) that she has chosen to remain in the West Bank for the time being."

At the same time, Zambry added that Wisma Putra is also monitoring the whereabouts of Malaysians in the conflict area.

"So far, there are no other reports concerning the location of other Malaysians in the area, except for the reports published (by the ministry) previously."

Yesterday, Wisma Putra said the Malaysian Embassy in Amman, Jordan was in contact with five Malaysians; a woman and a mother with three children, who are currently in the West Bank.

The recent clashes in Palestine involving Hamas and the Israeli regime have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives on both sides since Saturday, Oct 7.

Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that the recent escalation in the Israeli-Palestine conflict had led to the displacement of nearly 150,000 people in the Gaza Strip.

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