KUALA LUMPUR: Almost one hundred injured Palestinian civilians will arrive in Malaysia tomorrow via two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft to enable them to seek treatment for their wounds, sustained during Israel's brutal assault on Gaza.
The injured, comprising men, women and children, were among scores of Palestinian civilians who had sought refuge in Egypt following Israel's attack on Palestine, which has so far claimed almost 40,000 lives.
Egyptian Ambassador to Malaysia Ragai Tawfik Said Nasr said Malaysia is the first country in Asia and Asean to put in a request to aid the injured Palestinian civilians in such a manner.
He said the mission was carried out following a request by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
"Upon Anwar's request, President al-Sisi swiftly directed the relevant ministries and entities to facilitate the process," he told the New Straits Times.
Asked on how the Palestinians were selected for treatment in Malaysia, the ambassador said this was done based on the severity of their wounds.
The patients, he said, were picked by a delegation of Malaysian medical personnel, who collaborated closely with the Egyptian Health Ministry.
"The delegation, including Malaysian doctors, assessed and selected the patients, who had injuries ranging from bone fractures, burns, and many others.
"They are a mix of men, women and children who had fled Palestine and had been in Egypt since the Oct 7 attacks," he said.
The ambassador said more than 40 ambulances were mobilised to transport the patients from seven hospitals across Cairo to the Al Maza airbase to prepare for their departure to Malaysia.
He said to date, around 50,000 Palestinian civilians are seeking refuge from war-torn Gaza in Egypt.
Nasr also commended Malaysia's strong stance on the Palestinian issue and reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to supporting Malaysia in championing the Palestinian cause.
"Since Oct 7, Egypt has facilitated the delivery of over 1,500 humanitarian aid contingents from Malaysia to Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
"We would like to assure that Egypt would continue to assist Malaysia in any future efforts," he said.
The ambassador was also asked on what the next step would be for the injured Palestinian civilians once they have completed their treatments.
He declined to elaborate, and said it would be discussed later.
The New Straits Times had yesterday reported how two RMAF Airbus A400M airlifters had flown to the Al Maza airbase in Cairo to bring injured Palestinian civilians to Malaysia for treatment.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had told NST that the mission was carried out following Anwar's s announcement on the move at the Palestine Solidarity Rally on Aug 4 in Kuala Lumpur.
Reports stated that at least 1,000 sick and injured Palestinian children have died over the last 100 days after Israel closed the border crossing between Palestine and Egypt.
Palestinian authorities said the Zionist regime also prevented 25,000 sick and injured people, including children from traveling abroad for treatment during the same period.