GSF: Israel Must Release Detained Malaysian Activists Within 72 Hours - Lawyer

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- 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 that all detained Malaysian nationals were advised to sign the relevant 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 that all Malaysian nationals 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 Malaysian nationals, the 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 representatives from the Arab Minority Rights Centre in Israel (ADALAH) have been granted access to meet the detained Malaysian citizens, and have informed the legal team that all detainees are safe, in good health, and their morale remains high.

Among the 23 detained Malaysians are singer Heliza Helmi and her sister, Nur Hazwani Afiqah, who were aboard the Hio; Nurfarahin Romli and Danish Nazran Murad (Grande Blu); singer Zizi Kirana (Huga); Musa Nuwayri, Iylia Balqis and Sul Aidil (Alma); Haikal Abdullah, Muaz Zainal, Zulfadhli Khiduddin and Rusydi Ramli (Sirius).

The remaining individuals are Razali Awang (Inana); influencer Nurul Hidayah Mohd Amin, also known as Ardell Aryana (Mikeno); PU Rahmat, Norhelmi Ab Ghani, Mohd Asmawi Mukhtar and Norazman Ishak (Estrella); Zainal Rashid and Ustaz Muhammad (Fair Lady); as well as Muhammad Hareez Adzrami (also known as Haroqs), Muhd Haikal Luqman Zulkefli and Taufiq Mohd Razif (Free Willy).

The GSF, comprising over 500 activists from 45 countries, had embarked on a voyage toward Gaza as a gesture of solidarity and an effort to break the Israeli blockade.

The flotilla was sailing across the Mediterranean carrying vital food and medical supplies, bearing a message of peace that demands an end to the war and famine, and the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors to Gaza.

-- BERNAMA