GSF: Malaysian Activists To Return Home Monday

SEPANG, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- All 23 Malaysian activists involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission, recently released from Israeli detention, are scheduled to return home this Monday, according to Sumud Nusantara Operations Centre (SNCC) director-general Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby.

The activists arrived safely at Istanbul International Airport tonight at 8.40 pm Malaysian time, after departing Ramon Airport, Israel, at 6.40 pm on a Turkish Airlines flight fully arranged and sponsored by the Turkish government.

They were welcomed by officials from the Malaysian Embassy in Turkey, Wisma Putra and the Turkish government before being accommodated at Istanbul hotels to rest before their journey home.

“Sumud Nusantara expresses heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the families, delegates, secretariat and all Malaysians supporting this mission, for the care and leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Malaysian government.

“Their relentless efforts and close international diplomatic ties were crucial in negotiating the release of the 23 Malaysians,” he told reporters at a press conference tonight.

He also thanked Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan for their key roles.

Sani Araby said four Malaysian delegates aboard the observation ship Jong, along with several others based in Cyprus and Jordan, are in good condition and expected to join the main Malaysian delegation in Istanbul before returning home.

He credited the successful repatriation of all Malaysians to diplomatic negotiations led by the Malaysian government in cooperation with Turkey, Jordan and the United States (US).

He confirmed that 137 of the 462 Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) activists detained, from countries including the US, UAE, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia, Jordan and Malaysia, have been released with Turkish government assistance.

“Sumud Nusantara urges supporters to continue praying for the swift release of the remaining detained delegates,” he added.

Last Thursday, 23 Malaysian activists on the GSF mission were detained by Israeli forces after their vessel was intercepted in the Red Zone R3 waters of the Mediterranean Sea and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

Malaysians detained during the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission include singer Heliza Helmi and her sister Nur Hazwani Afiqah (ship Hio), Nurfarahin Romli (Farah Lee) and Danish Nazran Murad (Grande Blu), singer Zizi Kirana (Huga), Musa Nuwayri, Iylia Balqis and Sul Aidil (Alma) and Haikal Abdullah, Muaz Zainal, Zulfadhli Khiruddin and Rusydi Ramli (Sirius).

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

The GSF mission involved over 500 activists from 44 countries sailing towards Gaza to break the Israeli blockade and deliver vital supplies to Palestinians amid ongoing attacks by the Zionist regime.

Sumud Nusantara Operations Centre (SNCC) director Datuk Dr Sani Araby urged Malaysians to unite in prayer through solat hajat and qunut nazilah for an immediate end to the Gaza conflict, citing positive developments in negotiations between Hamas and Israel.

He added SNCC is planning a second humanitarian mission to deliver large-scale aid from Malaysia to Gaza, pending the opening of the Rafah humanitarian corridor.

“This message is for all Malaysians who cherish peace, support Gaza’s liberation, and stand behind Sumud Nusantara and the GSF missions. It marks a historic wave of unity,” he said.

-- BERNAMA