By Ufairah Tarmidzi
SEPANG, Oct 8 — Malaysians welcomed the arrival the 23 activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA) Terminal 1 last night with a sense of relief and gratitude.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who was there to receive the group, said the country’s ability to bring them home safely is proof that the government has always put the people’s safety and welfare as its top priority, no matter where they may be in the world.
“Thanks to Allah, our 23 activists have safely returned to our shores tonight.
“I want to also personally thank our prime minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for his efforts and diplomatic skills. Together with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Turkiye, he succeeded in freeing our activists from Israel’s captivity,” he said at KLIA last night.
Mohamad also asked that Malaysians not play into the criticism levelled at the GSF activists, which have been coming from some quarters.
Our activists, he said, did not participate in the flotilla mission with political motives. Neither were they out to provoke anyone. Rather, they sailed towards Gaza with humanitarian objectives, to bring much needed aid and a message of solidarity to the Palestinians who have suffered so much.
They highlighted Gaza’s plight to the world, Mohamad added.
The Emirates flight EK342 which brought the activists home landed at 10.07 pm local time.
Hundreds of supporters cheered as the activists walked out to the arrival hall, chanting “Allahuakbar” (God is Great) and “Free Palestine!”.
