SHAH ALAM – “Israel cannot be trusted. But we celebrate the ceasefire just as the Palestinians do.”
Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) activist Iylia Balqis Suhaimi described the recent ceasefire in Gaza as a bittersweet moment, marked by both cautious hope and continued grief.
After returning from the humanitarian flotilla mission, the 28-year-old activist reflected on the situation, saying that although the truce offered a brief sense of relief, reports of continued violence showed that “they didn’t actually follow what was agreed in the ceasefire."
“We know there might still be killings. In fact, today's killings happened. They didn’t actually follow what was agreed in the ceasefire.
“But we continue to support any progress, even if it’s small, like humanitarian aid trucks finally reaching Gaza,” she said during Palestinian Diaries podcast with Sinar Daily recently.
Iylia was among those onboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, a multinational effort to break the siege on Gaza and raise global awareness of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
“Our mission was never just to enter Gaza. The objective was to break the silence and to break the siege.
“People thought it was unsuccessful because we didn’t reach Gaza, but the real victory is that people around the world are now talking about Palestine again,” she said.
Iylia believes the mission succeeded in sparking global attention and possibly contributing to renewed political pressure.
“We saw countries like Spain and Italy speaking out and maybe even the ceasefire now is partly because of the pressure created by the movement,” she added.
She also recalled meeting Chief Mandla Mandela, grandson of the late Nelson Mandela, who joined the flotilla in a show of solidarity.
Hearing him speak, she said, was a powerful reminder of the parallels between South Africa’s apartheid and the oppression faced by Palestinians, both “crimes against humanity.”
For Iylia, the mission was not only political but also profoundly spiritual. She often draws connections between the Palestinian struggle and Islamic teachings, particularly the sacred significance of Baitul Maqdis.
“Palestine is not just another country for us, it is part of Sham, as mentioned in the Quran. It’s where Isra’ Mi’raj began, where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) led the other prophets in prayer,” she said.
Returning home, Iylia said she feels a greater sense of responsibility to continue advocating for Palestine.
“Our Prime Minister even spoke to us before the interception, assuring that the government stood with us.
“And Malaysians showed incredible support, from demonstrations at Dataran Merdeka to prayers and donations. It showed the world that Malaysia stands with Palestine,” she said.
Despite the risks and uncertainty faced during the mission, Iylia remains steadfast in her optimism, drawing parallels between the flotilla’s struggle and the perseverance of Prophet Muhammad before the victory of Fathul Makkah, believing that what they are doing now carries that same spirit, the journey toward Fathul Palestine.
She also highlighted the importance of advocacy platforms like Sinar Daily’s Palestinian Diaries podcast in sustaining awareness, saying that while such efforts might sometimes feel small, one day when Palestine is free, people will look back and realise how much those efforts truly mattered.
Being back home made Iylia realise that everyone has a role to play, whether it’s writing, sharing, donating or praying, because not everyone needs to be on the boat, and every small act makes a difference.
She expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming support shown by Malaysians from all walks of life and hoped to see more non-Muslim Malaysians joining future solidarity efforts, saying it would be wonderful to have participants from other communities such as Chinese, Indian and non-Muslim groups, as each of them reaches different audiences.
“What we are doing now is not nothing. It’s something. Every voice, every post, every story, it all counts,” she added.