Kuala Lumpur - (Saba):
Civil society organizations in Malaysia have announced the launch of an international initiative described as the largest of its kind.
This initiative aims to break the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip through a global naval movement of 1,000 ships departing from multiple continents.
This initiative is being hailed as an "uprising of human conscience" to support the Palestinians and hold the Israeli occupation accountable for its ongoing crimes.
This came during a press conference held in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. Azmi Abdul Hamid, Chairman of the Coordinating Council of Malaysian Islamic Organizations (MAPIM), announced that the initiative comes in response to the escalation of the Israeli occupation and its genocidal crimes against the people of Gaza. He emphasized that the project is receiving growing support from organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Abdul Hamid explained that the recent seizure of the Madeleine by Israeli forces has refocused attention on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and has led to renewed mobilization among solidarity movements around the world.
He added that the "1,000-ship flotilla" will be more comprehensive and coordinated than the 2010 Freedom Flotilla, led by the Mavi Marmara.
According to a joint statement signed by dozens of Malaysian institutions, the objectives of the naval action are to immediately lift the blockade, secure humanitarian aid, provide international protection for the people of Gaza, and hold the occupation's leaders accountable for war crimes.
The initiative also seeks to push governments to assume their responsibilities by providing protection for their participating citizens, which would increase international pressure on Israel.
In a related development, Malaysian activists organized a protest in front of the headquarters of the Malaysian Investment Authority, demanding an end to relations with companies that support the Israeli occupation, most notably the American company Caterpillar, which is accused of supplying equipment used in demolition and settlement operations. The demonstrators considered continued cooperation with these companies "complicity in crimes of genocide."
Meanwhile, MAPIM announced practical steps to expand the campaign's scope, including the establishment of an international secretariat and a financial fund to support logistical and technical preparations for the flotilla's launch, with open invitations to companies and individuals to contribute to the initiative's success.
Observers expect the "1,000 Ship Flotilla" initiative to become a global focus, especially in light of growing popular solidarity with Gaza and the failure of international institutions to halt the Israeli aggression. This reinforces the need for independent action from global civil society.
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