AMMAN, Saturday 5 June 2010 (Bernama) -- Dr Syed Muhammad Haleem Syed Hassan still has a pair of trousers he wore during the recent deadly Israeli assault on a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla, the faded blood stain still visible even after having it washed twice.

Besides treating the injured and witnessing death on the blood-soaked floor of the lead ship "Mavi Marmara", the member of pro-Palestine Malaysian non-governmental organisation (NGO) Haluan Malaysia at one point had a gun pointed to his head.

He and 11 other Malaysian volunteers, including two media representatives, shed tears of joy and embraced each other -- relieved that everybody was safe -- when they were reunited before their eventual release by Israel authorities on Wednesday.

"But the hardship and tension we went through in that one day or so during our close encounter with the Israelis pale in comparison to what the people in Gaza and Palestinians go through daily for years.

"They truly deserve to be called heroes," Dr Syed Muhammad Haleem told Bernama when recounting Monday's attack against the aid vessel in international waters as it sailed to the Gaza Strip, intent on breaking the Israeli blockade imposed on the coastal enclave for the past three years.

His sentiment was shared by the leader of the Malaysian NGOs, Noorazman Mohamad Samsuddin, who heads Haluan Malaysia's Palestine bureau.

"Granted, what we went through was extraordinary and everybody will be talking about it. But I think the real story here is still Gaza, Palestine and the people who are still suffering there," he said.

Judging from the incessant calls they have been receiving not only from family and friends but also media organisations in Malaysia wanting to get details of their experience, the 12 are likely to be in the news for some time to come.

"We'll use every opportunity to continue talking and reminding people on the need to help our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are under Israeli occupation," Noorazman said.

"And the real value of our work lies in sincerity. Once you lose that, whatever you do won't mean a thing," he noted.

Despite not being able to personally deliver the humanitarian supplies to Gaza, the Malaysians were glad that the pre-dawn Israeli attack had thrown an intense spotlight on the Tel Aviv regime and its inhumane treatment of the Palestinians.

Amid international outrage over the deaths of nine activists, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Israel's brutality had been laid bare by the bloodletting on the deck of Mavi Marmara, a Turkish vessel.

The incident, he said, had opened the eyes of the world, even among those who had not previously been too sympathetic with the plight of the Palestinians.

The Malaysian volunteers spoke about being handcuffed for 15 hours or more and kicked by Israeli soldiers. A few of them mentioned of being strip-searched.

Noorazman said: "We were split up, if you have another Malaysian with you, it's considered lucky. That caused us to worry about each other. In other instances, we were scolded when we tried to talk to one another."

Astro Awani journalist, Ashwad Ismail, has only respect for the other Malaysian volunteers.

"I've learnt so much from them. They're a dedicated lot and each one of them has a strong fighting spirit," said the 25-year-old who was joined on the trip by the television channel's cameraman Samsul Kamal Abdul Latip.

Ashwad said he felt privileged to have been able to report on the aid flotilla and had a glimpse of the decades-old Palestine-Israel conflict in the space of just over a day.

The organisers of what was dubbed the "Freedom Flotilla" said they were bringing medical supplies, construction materials and school supplies to Gaza.

Muslim Care Malaysia, represented by Halim Mohamed Redzuan, said it brought 300 sets of school bags with nearly 2,000 pens and pencils on the trip.

"This was at one point mentioned by the Gaza flotilla organiser IHH (a Turkish NGO) to underscore the peaceful nature of the convoy," he said.

But what transpired later on was anything but peaceful.

Dr Syed Muhammad Haleem described the upper deck of the Mavi Marmara as a battle zone where general pandemonium reigned as shots were fired at the activists.

He spoke of having to pray in his blood-soaked trousers in between treating the injured.

He remembered being asked by a gun-wielding Israeli soldier whether he loved Palestine -- which he defiantly answered in the affirmative.

"I looked at some of the soldiers in the eye and I could see that they were, in fact, cowards," said the doctor.

But the biggest test came when he had to treat two injured Israeli commandos. "I didn't realise this at first until somebody mentioned it to me. But as a doctor, it's my duty to treat people.

"It did cross my mind that they were the enemy. But my job is different.

"Islam teaches that when the enemy comes to you as captives, they're to be treated well," he explained. (By Muin Abdul Majid/ Bernama)