Two incidents represent pivotal points in the history of Malaysian support for Palestine: The Mavi Marmara Freedom Flotilla incident and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's visit to the Gaza Strip. The first incident occurred in 2010 and triggered an unprecedented wave of public support in Malaysia. Malaysian activists were aboard the Mavi Marmara, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, when Israeli commandos attacked it in international waters. Nine Turkish nationals were killed in the attack, and a tenth person later died of his injuries, and the incident sparked widespread outrage in Malaysia. Since then, Malaysia's popular support for Palestine has remained high, and the Malaysian participants in the voyage have been hailed as heroes by the public and the prime minister.

The visit of Najib Abdul Razak and his family took place in January 2013, making him the first Malaysian prime minister to visit Palestine. During his visit, he said: "We want to see an independent and united Palestine that enjoys the peace and security that all the peoples of the world deserve." Although the prime minister's office characterized the visit as humanitarian, many Malaysians saw it as an open challenge to Israel, which acts as a state above international law.

In the 1990s, Malaysian support for the Palestinian cause increased thanks to the return of students from abroad, who witnessed the suffering of Palestinian refugees, gained first-hand awareness of the nature of the Israeli occupation, and were exposed to the Palestinian narrative that is often omitted or distorted in local and international media.

There are many Malaysian NGOs dedicated exclusively to Palestine, such as Aman Palestine, Aqsa Sharif, Malaysian Authority for Palestinian Culture, Al-Quds Foundation Malaysia, Viva Palestina Malaysia, BDS Malaysia, MyAqsa, and others. Pro-Palestine activities are held throughout the year in universities, schools, mosques, theaters, auditoriums, hotels, and even stadiums, in addition to traditional and social media. Hardly a day goes by in Malaysia without a pro-Palestine event, making this cause more prominent than any other international issue.

At the official levelMalaysia always votes in favor of Palestine in international organizations such as the United Nations General Assembly, the Security Council, and UNESCO. The Palestinian issue is constantly on the agendas of Malaysian leaders when they meet with their American and European counterparts. The Malaysian government's position on Palestine arguably surpasses that of many Arab countries. For Malaysian Muslims, Palestine, especially Jerusalem, is considered an Islamic holy site that should be preserved at all costs.

Malaysia maintains an equal distance from all Palestinian factions. It recognizes the State of Palestine, hosts a Palestinian embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and receives its leaders, including President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah leaders. Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has also received Khaled Meshaal, the former head of Hamas' political bureau, on two occasions, as well as reportedly visiting the Gaza Strip.

Although Malaysian Muslims and Christians revere the Holy Land for religious reasons, Malaysian law prohibits citizens from visiting the occupied territories, including Jerusalem and Bethlehem, as this is considered a form of normalization with the occupation. The Malaysian passport is one of the few that does not allow its holder to enter Israel.

Two issues are at the heart of the Malaysian people: the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel's 11-year blockade, and the preservation of the security and sanctity of the city of Jerusalem and the safety of its Palestinian inhabitants.

I myself have witnessed and participated in many Jerusalem-related activities. In 2012, the Deputy Prime Minister was the patron of the opening ceremony of the Jerusalem Foundation Malaysia, founded by political leaders from the ruling party (Umno) and the opposition (PAS), and I was the executive director of the foundation.

Two years later, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was the patron of the "Save Jerusalem" campaign, launched by several Malaysian NGOs in response to the Israeli aggression and closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in 2014. More than 45 Malaysian civil society organizations and political parties participated in the campaign, hundreds of events were launched, and the campaign is still active today.

Malaysian politicians are remarkably sensitive and emotional when it comes to Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause. In August 2014, Agriculture and Agro-Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob closed his HSBC account and clipped his credit card in protest against the bank's decision to close the accounts of pro-Palestinian organizations in Britain.

When US President Donald Trump announced in December of the same year that he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein stated that Malaysia's armed forces were "ready to take any orders" regarding Jerusalem, calling the announcement "a slap in the face of the entire Muslim world."

On Dec. 22, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak led a rally at Putra Mosque in Putrajaya, attacking Trump's decision and asserting that Malaysia will do everything it can to protect Jerusalem, saying: "Yes, I visited the White House, and yes, I have a good relationship with Trump, but I will not compromise on the sanctity of Islam."

With regard to the Gaza Strip, Malaysians have long sought to end the illegal blockade and alleviate the suffering of its inhabitants. Humanitarian and solidarity delegations from Malaysia have repeatedly visited the Gaza Strip and provided assistance, giving them a first-hand view of the scale of the tragedy experienced by the Palestinians there, who are undoubtedly very grateful for Malaysia's continued support.