Harapan Youth rep apologises over 'upside-down' Palestine flag
• UPDATED 12.20AM | Added Shazni's explanation of how the mistake had transpired.
A Pakatan Harapan Youth representative has apologised over an “upside-down Palestine flag” held outside the US Embassy building in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
Taking to Facebook, PKR deputy youth chief Syed Badli Shah Syed Osman said they were present to...
- UPDATED 12.20AM | Added Shazni's explanation of how the mistake had transpired.
A Pakatan Harapan Youth representative has apologised over an “upside-down Palestine flag” held outside the US Embassy building in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
Taking to Facebook, PKR deputy youth chief Syed Badli Shah Syed Osman said they were present to handover a protest memorandum seeking US commitment to ensure a ceasefire between Hamas and Israeli forces.
Several photos taken during the incident showed Harapan Youth chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin holding an upside-down Palestine flag (above).
While its red chevron and middle white row was in the right position, the flag held by Shazni had a green band on top and black on the bottom, instead of the other way round.
“Note: Apologies. We did not notice the upside-down Palestine flag,” Syed Badli said on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Shazni said he initially had the flag in the correct orientation when posing for press photographers, but one of the photographers signalled him to "correct" it.
"Without prejudice and thinking we had made a mistake, the green (band) is reoriented to the top.
"Thus, photographs of the mistake was circulated without being accompanied by the original photo and videos of the 'correction' being made, which victimised us as being in the wrong," he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Syed Badli said they had initially planned for a protest outside the embassy but was restricted by strict Covid-19 prevention measures.
“The rest of Harapan Youth team held a convoy around the embassy,” he added.
According to the protest memorandum, Harapan Youth said they appreciated the efforts of US President Joe Biden and the Egyptian government in arriving at the ceasefire, although adding it should have been done earlier before the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians, and thousands injured.
Aside from urging cooperation to ensure Israel’s compliance with the ceasefire, Harapan Youth also called for the US to review its diplomatic ties and end the sale of firearms to Israel.
“Records showed how the US channeled US$3.8 billion annually to Israel,” Shazni told reporters.
“We stand firmly with the resolution made in the US Senate by Senator Bernie Sanders that the US government should stop plans to sell firearms worth US$735 million to Israel.
“[...] We urge for the US government, particularly President Joe Biden, to prove to all Americans and the world, that his administration truly believes in and upholds human rights, that all lives matters regardless of #BlackLivesMatter or #PalestineLivesMatter,” he said.
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was reached at 2am on Friday with Egypt acting as an intermediary.
Over 11 days, the Israel Defense Forces carried out a devastating aerial bombardment of Gaza, while Hamas fired thousands of rockets into Israel.
Israeli airstrikes killed 232 Palestinians, including 65 children. At least 12 people in Israel, including two children, have been reportedly killed by Palestinian fire from Gaza.
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