Istanbul: Nine Malaysian activists who are part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (FFC x TMTG) mission are likely to be flown to Istanbul, Turkiye this afternoon after being detained by the Israeli regime on Wednesday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) chief executive officer Kamarul Zaman Shaharul Anwar revealed that information from the FFC command centre in Turkiye suggested that the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs anticipates a flight from Israel to land in Istanbul around 3 pm local time today. This flight is expected to carry a group of FFC activists from 22 countries, possibly including the nine Malaysians, along with six Global Sumud Flotilla activists from Norway, Morocco, and Spain.

Kamarul Zaman stated that they are awaiting confirmation from Wisma Putra regarding the status of the nine Malaysians, whether they will indeed be on the flight. During a press conference, he confirmed that lawyers from the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights (ADALAH) in Israel had met with all the Malaysian activists, who were reported to be in good health.

The nine Malaysians include Prof Emeritus Dr Mohd Alauddin Mohd Ali, Dr Fauziah Mohd Hassan, Dr Hafiz Sulaiman, Dr Ili Syakira Mohd Suhaimi, Dr Mohd Afandi Salleh, Dr Noorhasyimah Ismail, Norsham Abu Bakar, Dr Maziah Muhammad, and Astro Awani journalist Syafik Shukri Abdul Jalil.

Additionally, Kamarul Zaman mentioned that MyCARE is planning to send representatives to Istanbul to prepare for the activists' arrival and to provide them with clothing and other essential items.

The FFC x TMTG mission, consisting of around 150 activists from 25 countries aboard nine vessels, including the Conscience and Umm Saad, was intercepted by Israeli forces on Wednesday while less than 120 nautical miles from Gaza at 10.50 am Malaysian time. Eight Malaysians were on board the Conscience, while one was on the Umm Saad.