SHAH ALAM – The objective of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) is clear, to break the silence and make the world listen.
For the activists on board, their voices are a call to raise awareness and open the eyes of those who have long turned away.
Among them was Iylia Balqis Suhaimi, a full-time project coordinator at Cinta Salam Malaysia (CSM), who shared her experience of the historic humanitarian mission that brought together activists from across Asia and beyond.
For nearly five years, Iylia has worked with CSM, helping Syrian refugees in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Malaysia, while also leading the organisation’s education initiatives for refugee children in Kuala Lumpur.
“We have almost 80 Syrian refugee students in our school here.
“I’ve been with CSM for almost five years, focusing on education initiatives for Syrian refugees both in Malaysia and abroad,” she said during Sinar Daily's Palestinian Diaries podcast, recently.
However, she said this mission, sailing with the Global Sumud Flotilla, was unlike any she had joined before.
At first, she said they did not realise how big the movement was going to be, but when international media such as Al Jazeera began covering it, they finally understood the true scale of the mission.
A call answered
Iylia had been involved in advocacy for Palestine through social media and content creation since October 2023, when Israel launched its genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
When the call for volunteers for the Global Sumud Flotilla’s Malaysian contingent went out, she knew right away it was something she wanted to be part of.
Still, convincing her parents was not an easy task.
“I’m the youngest of three sisters, so it wasn’t an easy decision. My father was worried, but after some thought, he said, ‘If your mother agrees, then I’ll allow it.’ Alhamdulillah, both of them gave me their blessing,” she added.
The Malaysian delegation included representatives from several non-governmental organisations including CSM, Cinta Gaza Malaysia, Global Peace Mission Malaysia and others, all chosen for their prior humanitarian experience.
“This was not like our usual missions to Syria or Lebanon. We were sailing for almost a month with limited food and water and people from many different nationalities. It was completely new to us,” she shared.
Preparing for the unknown
Once selected, the team had just 24 hours to prepare.
“We had to buy all the essentials, sleeping bags, raincoats, protein bars, because this time, we’d be living on a boat. It was physically and mentally demanding, but we trusted that Allah would guide us through,” she said.
From Malaysia, the team flew to Barcelona for two days of intensive training.
The sessions included interception drills, abandon ship simulations and fire and drone attack responses, all aimed at preparing participants for potential confrontations at sea.
“We were trained how to face the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), how to react if our ship was attacked and where to go in case of an emergency. The training was tough, but it saved us later on,” she added.
Life at sea
Despite the challenging conditions, morale remained high among the Malaysian participants, many of whom had previously worked together on humanitarian missions.
Iylia said they did not need any ice-breaking sessions because “the ice was already melted.” She added that they supported one another throughout the journey, often going live on TikTok to stay connected and positive.
However, the voyage was far from peaceful, as the flotilla came under attack 13 times, including by drones carrying stun grenades while sailing near Greece.
“One of the drones exploded suddenly right in the middle of the sea. It was terrifying, but our team stayed calm because of the training,” she said.
For Iylia, the mission was more than just an act of solidarity, it was a personal awakening.
“This journey taught me patience, unity and the power of collective voice.
“The Global Sumud Flotilla’s goal was to break the silence and Alhamdulillah, we did. People are listening,” she said.
The voyage marked the first time Malaysians participated actively in the flotilla since such humanitarian convoys began in 2008, making it a milestone for regional activism.
While the mission faced tense moments, Iylia believed it succeeded in one crucial goal: reminding the world that silence is no longer an option.
“We may not have reached Gaza physically, but we reached millions of hearts. That is victory in itself,” she added.