Tel aviv: The Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) has confirmed that eight Malaysians participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 mission were detained by the Israeli Forces as of 6 pm Malaysian time today after the vessels they were travelling on were intercepted while en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, activist Zainal Rashid Ahmad was detained at 5 pm while sailing aboard the vessel Amanda. Muhamad Muhsin Zaidi, who was on board the Isobella, was intercepted at 5.20 pm while three Malaysians travelling on the Ferluto - S. Patmanathan, Muhammad Amirul Afif Mohd Azhar and Dr. Syakirin Muhamed Senin - were detained at 4.50 pm.
Two others detained were Mohammad Syazly Mohammad Shees and Tengku Ahmad Taufik Tengku Noor Zahari after their vessel, Cactus, was intercepted at 4 pm. Activist Ahmad Musa Al-Nuwayri Kamaruzzaman, who was sailing on the Josef/Yusuf, was detained at 5.35 pm.
SNCC director-general Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby said the flotilla was about 241 nautical miles from the Gaza coast when it was intercepted, within recognised international waters protected under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
He reported that the Israeli forces employed provocative tactics by deploying several rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) towards the flotilla, alongside the presence of two warships and a prison ship near the flotilla's operational area.
Sani Araby highlighted that 11 flotilla vessels had been intercepted, approached, and subjected to direct interference by Israeli forces, namely Cactus, Zio Faster, Holy Blue, Ferluto, Kyriakos, Amanda, Blue Toys, Barbaris, Isobella, Josef, and Tenaz (Freedom Flotilla).
He added that two other individuals detained were Sumud Nusantara delegates Abdul Sattar Edhi Muhammad Saad from Pakistan, who was aboard the Zio Faster, and Indonesian national Andi Anga Prasadewa, who was travelling on the Josef.
Despite facing extremely high security risks, Sani Araby mentioned that 41 flotilla vessels, including those carrying 21 Malaysians, were continuing their voyage to Gaza due to ongoing threats of interception, harassment, and aggressive action by Israeli forces.
The SNCC is closely monitoring the situation and will provide official updates regarding the safety status and movement of the flotilla. Sani Araby called on the international community, human rights organisations, and the global maritime community to address the intimidation and security threats faced by this civilian humanitarian mission in international waters.