SHAH ALAM – Thirty vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) continue their journey towards Gaza despite eight ships being intercepted by the Israeli navy after the convoy entered a red zone.
Cinta Gaza Malaysia (CGM) chief executive officer Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri Kamaruzaman confirmed the matter.
“Thirty ships are still advancing towards Gaza at this moment,” he said briefly in a post on Thread.
According to a statement by the GSF, eight humanitarian ships had been intercepted and detained by the Israeli navy.
The eight vessels were identified as Deir Yassine/Mali, Huga, Spectre, Adara, Alma, Sirius, Aurora and Grande Blue.
At 2.03am Malaysian time, the Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) confirmed that flotilla ships had been intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters as the convoy made its way to Gaza for the humanitarian mission.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry, in a statement, accused the convoy of being a provocative act and instructed the ships to change course.
Israel also claimed it wanted to deliver the aid directly to Gaza.
The statement added that the Israeli navy had contacted the GSF and urged it to divert its route, warning that the convoy was approaching an active combat zone and violating what it described as a legitimate naval blockade.
Several volunteers, who managed to send messages via social media, said Israeli forces had used water cannons against their boats.
Among those detained was Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who was confirmed to have been taken to an Israeli port.