SEPANG, May 21 — All 428 humanitarian activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0, including 29 Malaysians detained by Israeli forces in international waters, have been released, with the Malaysian group due to return home May 24.

Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) director-general Datuk Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby said the SNCC had been informed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had dispatched three Turkish Airlines aircraft to Ramon Airport, located in Israeli territory.

He said all 428 flotilla activists were being transferred by bus to Ramon Airport, and were expected to travel to Istanbul on three special Turkish government-sponsored flights, TK6919, TK6921 and TK6925.

“The three special Turkish Airlines flights are expected to depart from the Israeli territory at about 8 pm Malaysian time.

“The flight is expected to arrive at 10 pm Malaysian time and will be received by the Malaysian Embassy in Türkiye, Wisma Putra, as well as the Turkish government,” he said at a press conference on the latest developments of the GSF 2.0 mission here today.

Sani Araby said the Malaysian delegation was expected to undergo a thorough medical examination at Türkiye Hospital following reports that some activists had been beaten and sustained injuries.

He said the Malaysian activists were expected to fly home on May 23 (Saturday) and arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on May 24.

He also expressed appreciation for the concern and continued commitment of Anwar, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari in securing the release of the 29 Malaysians.

“This includes efforts to strategically mobilise international diplomatic channels for negotiations to ensure the safe return of all 29 Malaysians,” he said.

Sani Araby said the detention of the humanitarian activists had sparked international outrage and condemnation, expressed through official statements and demonstrations.

Countries including Turkiye, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Australia and Portugal, as well as international organisations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU), condemned the interception and detention of humanitarian flotilla activists in international waters.

“The global response to the incident is not limited to condemnation, but also includes international pressure in the form of potential economic and diplomatic sanctions, legal action, issuance of warrants and diplomatic notes against Israel.

“Due to unexpected and increasingly widespread pressure, the regime, which had initially planned to detain them for a long period at Ketziut prison, was forced to release all activists unconditionally,” Sani Araby said.

Yesterday, SNCC confirmed that all 50 vessels in the GSF 2.0 mission, carrying 428 humanitarian activists from 40 countries, were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, about 80 nautical miles off the Gaza coast. — Bernama

SEPANG, May 21 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has given his assurance and full commitment to lead efforts through bilateral ties to secure the immediate release of Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 humanitarian activists detained by Israel.

Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) director-general Datuk Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby said the commitment was conveyed by the prime minister to SNCC during a telephone conversation today.

“The prime minister is leading all efforts together with the Malaysian government by leveraging close bilateral relations and has been in close contact with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to press for the immediate release of all detained activists, ensure their safety and prevent them from being imprisoned at Ketziot Prison,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference on developments involving the GSF 2.0 mission here today, Sani Araby said SNCC was also informed by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan that Wisma Putra had intensified diplomatic efforts with Turkiye and several other countries.

He said preparations had also been made involving Malaysian embassy representatives in Istanbul, Amman and Cairo to ensure the safety and release of Malaysians involved in the humanitarian flotilla mission.

Sani Araby said the incident had sparked international outrage and condemnation, including statements and demonstrations in Italy, Turkiye, Spain, France, Belgium, Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Australia and Portugal, as well as by international organisations.

“They also condemned the interception and detention of humanitarian flotilla activists in international waters,” he said.

He said SNCC called on Malaysians to continue strengthening solidarity through special prayers, Qunut Nazilah, national prayer gatherings, as well as sustained diplomatic pressure and advocacy until all humanitarian delegates are released.

Yesterday, SNCC confirmed that all 50 vessels under the GSF 2.0 mission carrying 428 humanitarian activists from 40 countries were intercepted by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in international waters, about 80 nautical miles from the Gaza coast. — Bernama

On March 1 the Kimolos, an oil tanker flying the Marshall Islands flag and operated by a Greek shipping company, disappeared from radars while sailing south-southwest about 60 nautical miles off the Lebanese coast. Two days earlier, it had docked at the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, Turkey. There, it had loaded approximately one million barrels of Azerbaijani crude oil at the BTC pipeline terminal, which transports oil from the Caspian Sea. For nearly four days, the tanker — which had declared that it was heading to Port Said, Egypt — stopped transmitting its position to the Automatic Identification System (AIS), as it is required to do by maritime safety regulations. After those four days, according to the Global Fishing Watch tracking platform, it reappeared about 40 miles south of the spot where it had disappeared, only this time it was sailing north, back towards the port of Ceyhan. What happened during those days it had become a phantom ship?

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