KUALA LUMPUR: Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali said injured Palestinians are in Malaysia only for treatment.
"They are in Malaysia for treatment and as soon as their treatment is completed, they will go back to where they came from.
"If Palestine border is open, they will go back to their homeland," he said when contacted today.
Walid was responding to criticisms by certain quarters on Malaysia's assistance, bringing in injured Palestinian civilians to Malaysia for treatment.
He said the initiative to host some injured Palestinians, the embassy was not involved in the coordination.
"The coordination was done directly between the Malaysian Defence Ministry and the Egyptian authorities.
"Because these patients were in Egypt."
He added no one should question the great support of Malaysia to Palestine and its people.
"On all levels; from the government, the people, non-governmental organisations, everybody in Malaysia is a great support to Palestine and the Palestinian cause."
On Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed his disappointment and sadness regarding the backlash from certain groups against the government's decision to bring injured Palestinians from Gaza to Malaysia for medical treatment.
He said that some critics went so far as to harshly condemn what he described as a modest act of compassion and kindness towards Palestinians who have been suffering under Israel's actions in Gaza.
What is worse, Anwar said some also asked him to go and become the prime minister of Palestine.
On August 16,two aircraft carrying 127 injured Palestinian civilians landed at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Subang Air Base.
They were transported by two RMAF Airbus A400M airlifters, which flew from the Al Maza Air Base in Egypt, and arrived around 2pm to receive treatment for wounds sustained during Israel's brutal assault on Gaza.
Ends