KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants Nurul Ain Haron, a Malaysian who was safely evacuated from the Gaza conflict zone yesterday (Nov 12), to relate the catastrophic situation of the Israeli attacks on Gaza when she returns to Malaysia.
In a four-minute video call this morning (Nov 13), Anwar said he was thankful that Nurul Ain and her Palestinian husband, Mohamed A. M. Shaat, had been brought to safety after being stranded in Gaza as the tension escalated.
Anwar said the attempt to get the couple to safety was not easy but he was assured by Egypt president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that the process would be facilitated and eased.
"When you are back in Malaysia, rest for a while then explain (what is happening there) so that many people will know the situation, the violence which is still continuing. It needs our attention.
"I am doing my best to try and secure a strong position to avoid killings and atrocities by Israel. This is beyond human imagination.
"Continue to pray and help so that Palestinians in Gaza will gain freedom and deter the continuous cruelty committed by Israel. We pray for your safe journey back to Kuala Lumpur," he said during the call accompanied by wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Anwar said he, too, was waiting for news of the couple's safe journey to the Rafah border crossing yesterday and was praying for them.
During the call, the couple thanked Anwar, the Malaysian government and Malaysians who had shown support, prayed for them and condemned Israel's attacks on Gaza.
"Alhamdulillah, (but) the ambassador had to wait too long for us. We felt guilty (for making him wait) because it was not an easy process for (my husband's) Palestinian passport," said Nurul Ain.
Nurul Ain said she had wanted to stay on in Gaza but the worsening situation persisted and they both decided to leave.
Shaat added that his family was doing alright and he had just spoken to them last night.
Towards the end of the call, Anwar let Azizah speak briefly to the couple.
Azizah said: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free".
In a Facebook post, Anwar extended the government's gratitude to several countries which had rendered their assistance in the process of evacuating the couple.
A Foreign Ministry official earlier confirmed that the couple would make their way back to Malaysia and more details would be revealed soon.
They were evacuated from the Gaza conflict area through the Rafah border crossing with the help of the Malaysian ambassador to Cairo and other embassy officials.