By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 3: Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has strongly condemned Israel’s recent move to block the Global Sumud Flotilla—an international humanitarian mission carrying aid to Gaza, describing the regime’s actions as inhumane and beyond what any human should be capable of.
Karim said it was deeply disappointing that Israel, despite its own painful history of persecution, continues to commit atrocities against Palestinians, including the killing of women and children and the destruction of entire communities.
“This is a very sad situation. Sometimes, some nation never learns. We have seen apartheid in South Africa before. We have seen the Second World War, the Holocaust—six million, supposedly Jews, has died. But the same people, when given land in Palestine, never learn from them.
“And they are the ones that have been doing this—murdering women and children, totally devastating the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. I don’t know what is in their mind. I can’t imagine human beings to have that kind of nature,” he told reporters when asked to comment on the conflict during a press conference held at Waterfront Hotel here today.
He also expressed support for Malaysian activists who joined the Global Sumud Flotilla mission to break the blockade, though they were stopped before reaching their destination.
“They were not even able to reach Gaza with the food, medicine and other supplies, as they were intercepted just before reaching the coastline,” he said, adding that about 200 activists from various countries, including two from Sabah, are involved.
Abdul Karim further criticised Israel’s use of the term “human animals” against Palestinians following the Oct 7 attacks, saying such language more accurately describes Israeli actions.
“Using the language that the IDF, the Israelis, the Zionists use—they are the ones who should be called human animals. Human beings don’t act like that. Even animals don’t act like that,” he stressed.
He also saluted the resilience of the Palestinian people amid continuous bombings and urged continued support for their struggle, adding that the roots of the conflict lie in colonial decisions made in 1947–48 and are now fuelled by Western powers. – DayakDaily
