Kuala lumpur: The Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) has confirmed that only the vessel Marinette remains from the 42 vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission, continuing its journey towards Gaza's waters.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Marinette is currently navigating the yellow zone in international waters without any Malaysian activists on board. As of last night, the vessel was reported to be approximately 80 nautical miles from Gaza and 10 nautical miles from the interception point where Israeli forces began stopping other boats in the flotilla. GSF officials have confirmed that over 450 activists from 47 countries have been transferred to the Port of Ashdod in southern Israel.
The activists, who were aboard the ships intercepted by Israel, include nationals from Malaysia, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Turkiye, Greece, the United States, Germany, Sweden, Britain, and France. In a statement, Israel's Foreign Ministry indicated that the detained activists are being transported to the Port of Ashdod before deportation to Europe.
The Anadolu news agency cited Israeli public broadcaster KAN, reporting that a 12-hour operation saw naval forces seize 41 vessels with approximately 400 participants en route to Gaza. The flotilla, carrying humanitarian and medical supplies, embarked at the end of August, marking a rare occasion in recent years where about 50 vessels sailed collectively towards Gaza to support the mission.
Israel has enforced a blockade on Gaza, affecting nearly 2.4 million residents, for nearly 18 years, with an intensification of restrictions in March that included closing border crossings and preventing the delivery of essential food and medicine, exacerbating famine conditions in the region. Since October 2023, Israeli bombings have resulted in over 66,200 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children.
The United Nations and human rights organizations have persistently warned about the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, highlighting the rapid spread of famine and disease, making the territory increasingly uninhabitable.
As of 2 pm today, SNCC's screen display indicated that Marinette had entered the Red Zone R2, traveling at a speed of 5.99 knots and was approximately 77 nautical miles off Gaza's coast. The vessel was observed near the locations where the Morgana and Seulle vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces.
SNCC spokesperson Nur Adibah Razali informed reporters that the Marinette's current speed suggests an increase in pace, as its usual average speed ranged between 4.5 and 5 knots. 'If it's going close to 6 knots, that means it wants to go faster. We can also view the situation there during the day through the closed-circuit television feed, and if an interception by the Israeli side occurs, it can be seen live,' she explained.