“The Palestinian people have proven to the whole world the meaning of courage and resilience. Despite all the challenges, suffering and excruciating hardship, they have manifested the true value of faith.

“I am honoured and feel deeply humbled to meet these young people who have gone through the loss of their loved ones and homes, yet continue to show strength of soul and an unbreakable spirit.

“May Allah SWT reward their resilience with an abundance of blessings in this world and the hereafter,” Her Majesty said.

Accompanying Her Majesty at the event was Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor, while UTM Vice-Chancellor Professor Ts. Dr Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim was also present.

The programme was organised as a platform for dialogue bringing together voices from the Palestinian community in Malaysia, including academics and students.

The dialogue session also saw panellists sharing their experiences of resilience in life, the highs and lows of their studies at UTM, as well as their aspirations to contribute to the recovery and rebuilding of Gaza, particularly in education and human development.

The panellists were UTM Faculty of Civil Engineering senior lecturer Dr Mohamad S. J. Darwish; Architecture PhD student from the Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying and recipient of the UTM Serambi Al-Quds Scholarship Sabreen M. M. Eleyan; Saifeddin Mithqal Hasan Meqbil from the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) UTM, who is also a recipient of the Bseisu-UTM Scholarship; and Palestinians in Malaysia Committee member Ghada Alhaddad. 

To ease their burden and express her concern, Her Majesty also consented to present contributions through the Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor to the Palestinian students and their families who attended the event.

-- BERNAMA