SHAH ALAM - Thirteen Malaysians on board five vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) have lost contact with the Sumud Nusantara Control Centre (SNCC).
Of that number, eight including singer Zizi Kirana have been confirmed detained by Israeli forces as of 6am Malaysian time.
In total, 23 Malaysians are part of the humanitarian mission.
At 2.03am Malaysian time, the SNCC confirmed that GSF vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters while en route to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid.
In a statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry accused the flotilla of being a “provocative act” and ordered them to change course. Israel also claimed that it intended to deliver the aid directly to Gaza itself.
The statement added that the Israeli Navy had contacted the GSF and urged them to divert, warning that the convoy was approaching an active combat zone and violating what Israel described as a legitimate naval blockade.
Several volunteers managed to send messages through social media before communication was cut off, reporting that Israeli forces had used water cannons and sprayed their boats.
Also among those detained was Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who has been confirmed to have been taken to an Israeli port.