KUALA LUMPUR - A group of humanitarian mission volunteers from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (FFC x TTMG) representing 25 countries - including nine Malaysians - detained by Israel are expected to arrive at the port of Ashdod, Israel, within 10 to 11 hours.
Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) chief executive officer Kamarul Zaman Shaharul Anwar said there had been communication disruptions with the participants following the interception of the vessels by Israeli forces at 10.50 am today.
"We expect this communication blackout to last longer, and the vessels’ speed to slow down, as the Israeli regime wants to ensure the delegation arrives at night (local time),” he said at a press conference at the MyCARE headquarters here today.
He said that according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan would help to repatriate the nine Malaysian volunteers and 28 Turkish participants to Istanbul, with preparations currently underway.
In addition, MyCARE urged the Malaysian government and public to condemn Israel’s crimes and demand the immediate release of all volunteers, while calling for an end to the illegal blockade and mass killings in Gaza.
"This voyage was not only meant to deliver humanitarian aid but also to express solidarity with the doctors and journalists in Gaza who have lost their lives - as doctors and international journalists from around the world were among those on board,” he said.
Earlier, MyCARE chairman Datuk Seri Prof Dr Kamal Nasharuddin Mustapha said all nine vessels in the humanitarian mission, including two with nine Malaysians on board, were intercepted and illegally seized by Israel.
He said MyCARE lost contact with the volunteers at 10.03am and had informed their family members of the matter.
He said the Malaysians aboard the ship Conscience included Malaysian delegation head Prof Emeritus Dr Mohd Alauddin, Dr Fauziah Mohd Hassan, Dr Hafiz Sulaiman and Dr Ili Syakira Mohd Suhaimi.
Prof Dr Mohd Afandi Salleh, Dr Noorhasyimah Ismail, Norsham Abu Bakar and Astro Awani journalist Syafik Shukri Abdul Jalil were also on Conscience, while another medical doctor, Dr Maziah Muhammad, was on the vessel Umm Saad. - BERNAMA