KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — The Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisations (Mapim) has called for October 7, 2026 to be observed as a day of humanitarian remembrance and solidarity, and for a renewed commitment to supporting the Palestinian people, in conjunction with the third anniversary of the Gaza tragedy.

In a statement on Wednesday (September 30), its president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said attention must be focused on the plight of the Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza who continue to face destruction, displacement, shortages of necessities and security risks.

He said although the situation had changed following the announcement of a ceasefire in October 2025, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remained worrying, with residents facing damaged infrastructure, shortages of medical supplies, water and sanitation, as well as restrictions on the entry of humanitarian goods.

Based on a September 25 report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 94 per cent of Gaza’s population still requires shelter and necessities, while about 65 per cent of households are living in tents or temporary shelters.

A total of 451 displacement sites housing about 464,402 people have also been identified as being at high risk of flooding during the rainy season.

Mapim said the situation had also had a major impact on children, with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) reporting in the middle of this year that about 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents had experienced displacement, in addition to continued disruptions to health, water, sanitation and protection services.

“Therefore, October 7, 2026 should not be seen merely as a date to recall the tragedy.

“It should become a day of awareness, a day of solidarity and a day to renew the humanitarian commitment to Gaza and Palestine,” the statement said.

In conjunction with the commemoration, Mapim is highlighting the “Three Years of Gaza: Don’t Let the World Forget” campaign, centred on five key messages, including remembering the victims, the destruction and survivors, while emphasising the responsibility of the international community and translating solidarity into action.

The statement also proposed several programmes from October 1 to 7, including the launch of the Remember Gaza campaign, Gaza Memory Day, a forum on the Gaza crisis, a winter humanitarian aid campaign, Mosque for Gaza and Global Solidarity Night.

The programme’s culmination on October 7 is proposed to be the National Gaza Memorial Day, featuring prayers for the victims, readings of victims’ names and stories, testimonies from Palestinians, fundraising, calls to governments and the international community, and a Malaysian solidarity declaration for Palestine.

Mapim said humanitarian aid, winter necessities, education, healthcare recovery, reconstruction and international advocacy must continue to support the people of Gaza.

“Three years have passed, but Gaza must not become a forgotten history.

“We remember the victims, stand with the survivors, help those in need and continue to call on the world to defend humanity,” Mapim said. — Bernama