Gaza: Nine Malaysian activists participating in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (FFC x TMTG) humanitarian mission have been confirmed safe after their vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces yesterday and towed to Ashdod Port, Israel.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) chief executive officer Kamarul Zaman Shaharul Anwar stated that lawyers from the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (ADALAH) informed that all 145 activists involved in the mission had been transferred to Ketziot Prison in the Negev, Israel. The lawyers had met with seven Malaysian delegates for further legal proceedings, and the remaining two were expected to be located soon.
Kamarul Zaman confirmed that the lawyers had applied to attend all hearings involving the detained activists and would continue to provide updates. Some activists experienced acts of violence during the interception, and the lawyers have requested to meet them later. Personal belongings, including clothes and power banks, were confiscated, but no serious injuries or violence involving the Malaysian delegation were reported.
Additionally, Kamarul Zaman mentioned the possibility of three Turkish parliamentarians who joined the flotilla being deported. The tribunal hearing for all detained delegates, including Malaysians, is expected within the next two days. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has contacted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and diplomatic efforts are underway for the repatriation of Malaysian activists.
The FFC x TMTG mission included about 150 activists from 25 countries aboard nine ships, including the Conscience and Umm Saad, intercepted less than 120 nautical miles from Gaza. The eight Malaysians on the Conscience vessel were head of delegation Prof Emeritus Dr Mohd Alauddin, Dr Fauziah Mohd Hassan, Dr Hafiz Sulaiman, Dr Ili Syakira Mohd Suhaimi, Prof Dr Mohd Afandi Salleh, Dr Noorhasyimah Ismail, Norsham Abu Bakar, and Astro Awani journalist Syafik Shukri Abdul Jalil. Dr Maziah Muhammad was on board the Umm Saad vessel.