Anwar Condemns Interception Of Gaza-bound Aid Vessels, Demands Release Of Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday strongly condemned the provocative and unlawful actions of the Israeli Zionist forces for intercepting humanitarian aid vessels bound for Gaza this morning.

He said the mission vessels of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (TMTG), which included Malaysians, were illegally intercepted in international waters by Israeli forces at about 10.50 am Malaysian time.

He said the act of detaining humanitarian vessels carrying aid for the people of Gaza was inhumane and violated the fundamental principles of human rights and universal human dignity.

“I demand that all Malaysian activists and volunteers be released immediately, given due protection, and not subjected to any form of harm during their detention.

“The MADANI Government will make every possible effort to safeguard the lives of all Malaysians involved in this humanitarian mission and will engage with partner countries and international organisations to facilitate their immediate release,” he said.

Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) on Wednesday confirmed that nine vessels, including ‘Conscience’ and ‘Umm Saad’, carrying nine Malaysian activists, were intercepted by Israeli forces at about 10.50 am Malaysian time.

This latest FFC and TMTG mission saw eight Malaysian representatives aboard ‘Conscience’, which departed from Porto Otranto, Italy, on Sept 30, led by Prof Emeritus Dr Mohd Alauddin Mohd Ali.

The group also included three doctors — Dr Fauziah Mohd Hassan, Dr Hafiz Sulaiman and Dr Ili Syakira Mohd Suhaimi — two lecturers, Prof Dr Mohd Afandi Salleh and Dr Noorhasyimah Ismail, MyCARE Board of Trustees member Norsham Abu Bakar and Astro Awani journalist Syafik Shukri Abdul Jalil.

Another Malaysian, Dr Maziah Muhammad, was aboard ‘Umm Saad’, which departed from Catania, Sicily, on Sept 27 together with seven other vessels en route to Gaza.

The humanitarian mission aimed to deliver real-time coverage and bring aid to the people of Gaza, who continue to suffer under Israel’s blockade and siege.

In total, the FFC mission comprises about 150 participants from 25 countries, with MyCARE leading the Malaysian delegation.

-- BERNAMA