Istanbul: The government will ensure a smooth process for the return of Malaysian citizens who participated in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission and are currently in Istanbul, Turkiye, to their home country in the near future. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, through a Facebook post tonight, said the repatriation process would be carried out by the Malaysian government machinery under the management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Istanbul.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar stated that the 23 Malaysians, who have been released from detention in Israel, will also be provided with comprehensive support and assistance, including health checks and psychological support. He expressed gratitude for their safe arrival in Istanbul and hoped for a protected return journey for the Malaysian participants.
The Director-General of the Sumud Nusantara Operations Centre (SNCC), Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim, informed a daily press conference that the 23 Malaysian delegates safely arrived at Istanbul International Airport at 8:40 pm Malaysian time. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, in a Facebook post, mentioned that all 23 Malaysians involved departed aboard a special Turkish government flight from Ramon Airport, Israel. Prime Minister Anwar also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other world leaders for their roles in facilitating the release process of all Malaysian activists and volunteers.
On Thursday, the 23 Malaysian activists participating in the GSF mission were detained by the Zionist regime's military after their ships were intercepted in the R3 Red Zone waters of the Mediterranean Sea and subsequently taken to Ashdod port, Israel. The detained Malaysians included notable figures such as singer Heliza Helmi and her sister, Nur Hazwani Afiqah, and influencer Nurul Hidayah Mohd Amin, among others.
The GSF mission involved more than 500 activists from 45 countries sailing towards Gaza as a symbol of solidarity and an effort to break the Israeli blockade while delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.