KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has described as insolent Israel’s allegations labelling Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) activists as terrorists.
He said the GSF’s voyage to Gaza was a humanitarian mission aimed at helping Palestinians oppressed by the Zionist regime, which in reality is the true terrorist.
“Whose voice is this? From terrorist Israel, the biggest terrorist. These (GSF) participants did not bring weapons, did not kill anyone.
“They brought food, drink and medicine. How can GSF be called terrorists? This is an insolent statement,” he told reporters after Friday prayers at Al-Khadijah Mosque in Lembah Pantai here today.
Anwar was responding to remarks by Israel minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who, in a video, accused GSF activists of being terrorists.
Meanwhile, Anwar said he had received information that the Malaysian volunteers in the GSF mission are staying strong despite being under Israeli detention.
He said they have contributed significantly towards raising global awareness on Zionist atrocities.
“Although some say they did not make it to Gaza, it must be understood that they are confronting a brutal occupying regime.
“What they are going through has opened the eyes of hundreds of millions around the world. They sacrificed, braving the waves at sea, facing uncertainty over their safety, and even had their phones thrown into the sea,” he said.
Yesterday, Sumud Nusantara Command Centre director-general Datuk Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby confirmed 23 Malaysian activists had been detained by Israel after communications were cut off and visuals showed their detention.
The detained Malaysians are singer Heliza Helmi and her sister, Nur Hazwani Afiqah, who were aboard the Hio; Nurfarahin Romli and Danish Nazran Murad who were aboard the Grande Blu; singer Zizi Kirana aboard the Huga; Musa Nuwayri, Iylia Balqis and Sul Aidil aboard the Alma; Haikal Abdullah, Muaz Zainal, Zulfadhli Khiduddin and Rusydi Ramli aboard the Sirius; Razali Awang on the Inana; influencer Nurul Hidayah Mohd Amin, also known as Ardell Aryana, on the Mikeno; PU Rahmat, Norhelmi Ab Ghani, Mohd Asmawi Mukhtar and Norazman Ishak aboard the Estrella; Zainal Rashid and Ustaz Muhammad on the Fair Lady; and Muhammad Hareez Adzrami, also known as Haroqs, Muhd Haikal Luqman Zulkefli and Taufiq Mohd Razif on the Free Willy.
The GSF, comprising more than 500 activists from 44 countries, sailed towards Gaza as a symbol of solidarity and to break Israel’s naval siege on the Palestine enclave.
The humanitarian mission drew global attention with the participation of international figures, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon, and Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela.
