SHAH ALAM, Oct 2 — Israeli forces have intercepted Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) vessels and detained activists on board, drawing outrage and accusations of abduction, violence and piracy.
Twenty-seven Malaysians are part of the humanitarian mission, with 23 onboard the ships and four monitoring the convoy. Some Malaysian volunteers had earlier released SOS videos indicating they had been held by Israeli forces.
The Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) monitors and provides updates on the flotilla, with updates presented by SNCC director-general Datuk Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby.
The GSF, hailed as the largest humanitarian flotilla ever organised by activists, brought together 497 activists from 46 countries. Other than Malaysia, the initiative drew significant participation from Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Tunisia.
Media Selangor brings you live updates of the Zionist regime’s interception of the aid mission, which aims to break the siege on Palestine’s Gaza.
11.04pm: Sani Araby said all 23 Malaysian GSF activists were declared as detained at 4.25pm today after communication was lost and visual evidence confirmed they had been taken into custody by the IDF.
"We anticipate the possibility that some volunteers have already been transferred ashore," he said during a press conference.
10.51pm: Swedish environmental activist and campaigner Greta Thunberg was among detainees when the Israeli military boarded one of the GSF vessels today.
Reuters reported that the 22-year-old had pre-recorded a video, which was released on her behalf after her ship was boarded, in which she said she had been abducted and taken against her will by Israeli forces.
"Our humanitarian mission is non-violent and abides by international law," Thunberg said.
5.57pm: At least 317 activists from 21 vessels are in Israel custody, according to the SNCC flotilla tracker.
The detainees were ferried by an Israeli Navy vessel to Ashdod Port, where the deportation procedures will commence today, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
5pm: The SNCC said 17 of the 23 Malaysian activists who joined the GSF have so far been detained by the Israeli regime.
4.25pm: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has contacted Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to pursue diplomatic action following the detention of the GSF activists. He will also reach out to Egyptian President Abdul Fattah el-Sisi later today.
Anwar said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has been coordinating with multiple international counterparts, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to ensure all Malaysians detained by Israeli forces are safely returned.
He reiterated that the detainees were acting on humanitarian principles and called upon the international community to pressure Israel to release all those held.
4.15pm: Around 17 Malaysians participating in GSF have been confirmed as being intercepted by Israeli forces in Gaza waters as at 2pm today.
The SNCC's tracking screen monitoring the progress of the Malaysian delegation also confirmed that contact has been lost with six Malaysians, with the latest being Razali Awang, who was on the vessel Inana.
4.05pm: Lawyers onboard GSF vessels are documenting international humanitarian and marine law violations committed by Israel, which will be sent to the International Court of Justice, Al Jazeera reporter Hassan Massoud said.
“We are monitoring all the cameras and can confirm that several boats are still trying to reach Gaza. Even if just one of the boats reaches Gaza, this would achieve their goal to break the siege.”
4.01pm: The GSF’s breakaway Mikeno vessel reached Gaza’s territorial waters this morning, but its tracking signal was lost when it was about 9.3 nautical miles from the coast.
Anadolu Ajansi reported that it remains unclear if the Mikeno was attacked and towed, evaded Israeli forces, or if there was an error with the tracker.
4pm: Israel’s Foreign Ministry said detained GSF activists, whom it called “Hamas-Sumud passengers”, are making their way “safely and peacefully” to Israel, where their deportation to Europe will begin.
“The passengers are safe and in good health,” it posted on X.
3.30pm: Two people were arrested today during a rally in front of the United States (US) Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in support of the GSF mission. The gathering, which began around noon, drew dozens of participants.
According to Parti Sosialis Malaysia on Instagram, one of those detained is pro-Palestine activist Kamal Aarif Kamaruddin, who has been taken to the Wangsa Maju district police headquarters for questioning.
3pm: Lawyer Fahmi Abd Moin informed Harian Metro that he, along with four lawyers from the Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (Centhra), arrived in Amman, Jordan, yesterday.
It is understood that an official statement will be issued to the media soon regarding this development.
2.30pm: The GSF vessel Free Willy was intercepted by the Zionist regime in international waters at 12.53pm Malaysian time.
According to Sumud Nusantara's official Instagram page, it was carrying three Malaysians: Haroqs, Haikal Zulkefli, and Dr Taufiq Mohd Razif.
1pm: All 12 Malaysians detained by Israel are safe, said Sani Araby. He said they remain aboard their vessels, Harian Metro reported, adding that both Malaysian and non-Malaysian volunteers on the boats had confirmed the fact.
“The participation of 45 countries, not only from Asia but also from Europe and even Nato members such as Turkey, is one of the reasons Israel dares not take further action, because the world is watching,” Sani Araby said.
12.08pm: Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari in a statement urged Israel to release Malaysian GSF volunteers under the Zionist regime’s detention.
The Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) meanwhile released a statement demanding that all GSF activists be immediately freed.
Both condemned Israel’s cowardly, criminal actions.
11.50am: Anwar said Malaysia is engaging with stakeholders, including through diplomatic channels, to secure the immediate release of volunteers detained by Israeli forces during the GSF mission.
“To the families of all activists and volunteers, may you continue to be granted strength and resilience in facing this challenging time. Updates on every step towards their release will be communicated periodically," he said on Facebook.
10.38am: The vessel Fair Lady was intercepted by Israeli forces. It was carrying two Malaysians, Zainal Rashid Ahmad and Ustaz Mat, local writer Faisal Tehrani confirmed in a video posted to TikTok.
In an audio recording sent to Faisal, Zainal said those detained would be transferred to another ship and sent to an Israeli detention centre to face charges, adding that the crew of the small, damaged boat faced no aggression.
10.37am: GSF spokesperson Saif Abukeshek in an update on Instagram confirmed Israeli forces intercepted 13 boats and detained over 200 people from 37 countries, including 30 from Spain, 22 from Italy, 21 from Turkey, 12 from Malaysia, 11 each from Tunisia and Brazil, and 10 from France.
“We have around 30 ships fighting their way away from the military vessels of the occupation forces trying to reach to the shores of Gaza. They are determined, they are motivated, and they are doing everything within their hand to break this siege by early morning and to arrive together,” he said.
8.52am: Malaysians Heliza Helmi and Nur Hazwani Afiqah (aboard vessel Hio), and Nurfarahin Romli and Danish Nazran Murad (Grande Blu) were detained by Israeli forces.
According to SNCC tracking data, the Grande Blu was intercepted at 5.58am Malaysia time, while the Hio was intercepted at 7.34am, about 60 nautical miles from Gaza.
7.56am: Amirudin and Anwar, in separate Facebook posts, both condemned Israel for its aggression and unlawful detention of Malaysian activists aboard GSF vessels.
“The safety and dignity of our people are paramount, and we will not allow them to be compromised with impunity,” Anwar said.
Amirudin lambasted the Zionist regime, saying: “Israel’s use of water cannon and illegal boarding of the ship is wrong under international maritime law. I condemn this cowardly act in the strongest terms and urge that all detained volunteers be released immediately.
7.50am: Seventeen Malaysians aboard GSF vessels lost contact with the SNCC, with eight being unlawfully detained. They are Zizi Kirana (aboard the Huga vessel), Musa Nuwayri, Iylia Balqis and Sul Aidil (Alma), Haikal Abdullah, Muaz Zainal, Zulfadhli Khiduddin and Rusydi Ramli (Sirius).
6am: The SNCC reported nine vessels were under “attack” status, with 13 others sending “emergency signals”.
