KUALA LUMPUR: Two Palestinian women, who were caught on video causing a commotion and damaging public property at Wisma Transit in the city, will be sent back to Gaza soon.
The two were part of 127 wounded Palestinian civilians who had arrived in Malaysia on Aug 16 to receive medical treatment here following Israel's attack on Gaza last year.
A series of video clips, which have since gone viral, showed the women behaving in an unruly manner at Wisma Transit, where the injured Palestinians and their families were being housed for the duration of their medical treatment.
One of the clips also showed a woman breaking a vase and kicking away a table.
It is understood that they were displeased at not being allowed to reside outside Wisma Transit.
Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia, Walid Abu Ali, told the New Straits Times that the women in the video would be sent home to Gaza.
He said this was decided upon following his meeting with the Defence Ministry and Ops Ihsan representatives today to discuss the incident.
"We agreed that this was an isolated incident. It does not represent the Palestinians.
"It's a shame and should not have happened," he said.
Walid also issued a warning for the Palestinians in Malaysia to mind their conduct.
'For those here, if they're not happy, they can go back to where they came from. Sending these women back should serve as a lesson to the others," he said.
He said the Palestinian government was appreciative of the help extended to them by Malaysia and its people.
"The injured Palestinians and their relatives here should appreciate what the Malaysian government is doing to help them. While they are here, they must respect the laws of the host country.
"They should also appreciate the opportunity given to them, compared to the thousands who are still suffering back home in Gaza. Those back home have no such assistance," he said.
Walid condemned the incident and apologised on behalf of the Palestinian community.
He said the incident was exaggerated by some quarters on social media, and was resolved and dealt with on the same day.
The ambassador also asked Malaysians to understand the emotional struggles and pressure that the Palestinians were undergoing.
"We ask Malaysians to understand that these people have gone through an unprecedented struggle, both emotionally and physically due to Israel's genocidal acts.
"I will not allow anyone to jeopardise the good bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Palestine. We will always be appreciative of whatever efforts Malaysia has undertaken for the Palestinians," he said.
On Aug 4, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, at the Palestine Solidarity Rally in Bukit Jalil, announced that Malaysia planned to take in injured Palestinian civilians to enable them to receive treatment in Malaysia.
On Aug 16, two Royal Malaysian Air Force Airbus A-400M airlifters flew 127 injured Palestinian civilians from Egypt to the RMAF Subang Airbase.
The Palestinians included 41 injured men, women and children, some as young as eight months, as well as their relatives.