KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — Israel must release the Malaysian activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) currently detained at the Ketziot Camp within 72 hours, as they have signed the Request For Immediate Departure forms.
Lawyer Dir Kheizwan Kamaruddin confirmed all detained Malaysian nationals were advised to sign the forms during legal briefings conducted at the Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (CENTHRA) based in Tunisia and Italy.
“If they have signed the ‘Request For Immediate Departure’ forms, they should be released within 72 hours, that is, within three days. This procedure is to avoid further burdening the detainees and prevent prolonging their detention under the Israeli regime,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.
Dir Kheizwan is among five lawyers from CENTHRA currently stationed in Amman, Jordan, working to ensure all Malaysians detained by the Israeli regime receive transparent and fair legal protection.
The other lawyers in the team are Fahmi Abd Moin, Azril Mohd Amin, Ahmad Nazrin Abu Bakar and Luqman Mazlan.
Dir Kheizwan clarified that following the signing of the relevant forms by the Malaysians, Israeli authorities are required to repatriate them to a border crossing of their (Israel’s) designation.
“The initial plan is for their return via Jordan or Egypt, as these are the most accessible options,” he added.
He also confirmed that Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (ADALAH) lawyers have been granted access to meet the detained Malaysians, and have informed the legal team that all detainees are safe and in good health and spirits.
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.
