KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 — Twelve nations, including Malaysia, have condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli assault on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) in international waters.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Malaysia, Turkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, South Africa, and Spain said the attacks on the vessels and the unlawful detention of humanitarian activists in international waters constitute flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law.
“The ministers are deeply concerned about the safety of the civilian activists and urge the Israeli authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure their immediate release,” the statement read.
The ministers also called on the international community to fulfil their moral and legal obligations to uphold international law, protect civilians, and ensure accountability for these violations.
The GSF, a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at drawing the attention of the international community to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, had its vessels intercepted by the Israeli navy on April 29 in international waters near the Greek island of Crete.
The flotilla was carrying participants of various nationalities, including 10 Malaysians.
The Sumud Nusantara Control Centre (SNCC), in a statement on Thursday, said 175 activists were taken to Israel aboard Israeli vessels.
