Gaza city: The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) humanitarian mission, with nine Malaysians aboard, is expected to reach the yellow zone, 300 nautical miles off the Gaza coast, within the next 24 hours, as of this afternoon.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) chief executive officer Kamarul Zaman Shaharul Anwar stated that the mission, which involves nine ships, including the flagship Conscience and the Umm Saad vessel, is anticipated to enter the red zone in three to four days, depending on the sailing strategy. This mission focuses on sending international journalists, medical experts, and activists to Gaza. The Conscience ship is carrying medical supplies and baby food worth RM500,000. If allowed to dock in Gaza, the doctors and journalists will spend two full days working on the Gaza coast.
Kamarul added that Conscience is carrying 10 crew members, 20 international journalists, 21 medical professionals, three Members of Parliament from Turkiye, 34 activists, and six members of the FFC Steering Committee. The eight Malaysian representatives aboard the ship, which departed from Porto Otranto, Italy, on September 30, include chief delegate Prof Emeritus Dr Mohd Alauddin Mohd Ali and several other professionals from various fields. Meanwhile, another doctor, Dr Maziah Muhammad, is aboard the Umm Saad ship that left Catania, Sicily, on September 27, along with seven other vessels heading towards Gaza.
In total, around 150 participants from 25 countries are part of this FFC mission, with MyCARE leading the Malaysian delegation. Today, the nine Malaysian representatives shared in a live broadcast their readiness to face any challenges and reiterated their determination despite the obstacles they may encounter. They emphasized their preparedness and commitment to the mission, expressing hope for its success and highlighting the ongoing plight of Gaza.
It is worth noting that previous flotilla missions have been intercepted by the Israeli military, including the Zaytouna (2016), Al-Awda (2018), Conscience, Handala, and Madleen (2024) ships, which led to the detention of volunteers and international figures from over 40 countries.