About 1,000 people staged a peaceful demonstration today in front of the United States' embassy in Jalan Tun Razak to protest Israel's recent military attacks on Muslims and civilians in Gaza.

They comprised members of three non-governmental organisations, Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram), Pertubuhan Himpunan Lepasan Institusi Pendidikan Malaysia (Haluan Malaysia) and Aqsa Syarif, and several members of the public.

NONE They marched from the Tabung Haji building to the embassy and assembled for about 40 minutes from 1.50 pm, carrying banners and posters declaring "End Gaza killing", "Boycott goods of Israel and allies" and "Crush Israel".

Ikram deputy president Dr Mohamed Hatta Shaharom said the gathering was a protest against the recent Israeli military raids on the Muslim population in Gaza.

The Israeli air raids in Gaza over the past two days had taken the lives of 12 Palestinian people, among them six children and a pregnant woman.

NONE Meanwhile, in Bangi, Islamic Relief Malaysia (IRM) urged Malaysians to support the Gaza Emergency Medical Aid (Gema) Fund set up to channel medical assistance directly to the victims of the Israeli military raids.

IRM country director Zairulshahfuddin Zainal Abidin said the Islamic Relief network was collecting US$1 million (about RM3.07 million) worldwide to provide medical and other supplies for leading hospitals in Gaza.

He said donations could be sent in the name of "Islamic Relief Malaysia" to the Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) account number 1202 90100 6564 3, Malayan Banking Berhad (MBB) account number 5621 4270 8704 or the CIMB Bank account number 1259 0000 804 058.

Islamic Relief is an international relief and development agency operating in more than 40 countries and has a permanent network in more than 30 nations, including Palestine, since 1998.

- Bernama