SNCC Strongly Denies Claim That GSF Mission Did Not Carry Humanitarian Aid

SEPANG, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- The Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) has strongly denied Israel's claim that the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission did not carry humanitarian aid.

SNCC director-general Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby said that from the very beginning, all developments related to aid delivery had been openly shared on the official social media platforms of GSF and Sumud Nusantara, including the latest contribution from the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay).

"We kind of knew this narrative would be used to show that the GSF voyage is merely an effort to stir up global sentiment. I feel that this is a strong indication that the Israeli regime is feeling the pressure,” he told a media conference here today.

He said that, at the final stage of the mission, additional aid was also delivered by Kizilay via a Turkish naval vessel.

He added that the flotilla's last vessel, Johnny M, could not continue its voyage after taking on water and was partially submerged.

Sani Araby said that since the GSF departed from Barcelona, Italy, Tunisia, Greece and Malta, the flotilla had brought various forms of humanitarian aid, with photographic evidence that had been shared.

However, he stressed that the main focus now is to ensure the safety of the 495 participants being detained by Israel.

"This mission was intercepted without reasonable cause. We were not carrying weapons, and our participants fully cooperated. In fact, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, which could be viewed live, showed no suspicious movements that could suggest we posed any threat,” he said.

As such, he hopes all Malaysians will focus on Israel, which is violating humanitarian rights.

"If we focus too much on the question of 'where does the aid go’, we will be adopting a distorted narrative as to who is violating the mission,” he said. 

Asked about the second wave of humanitarian mission to Gaza, Sani Araby said that as long as Gaza is not freed, its people's rights continue to be denied, and famine worsens, the world will continue to rise in solidarity.

He said that from an international perspective, including the United Nations (UN), the landscape is becoming increasingly tense, with countries like Colombia consistently implementing necessary actions, including cutting ties and expelling Israeli representatives as a form of diplomatic pressure.

"So, every country is playing their role, which I think is quite a surprising turn of events in modern history. After 75 years, even the United Kingdom is recognising Palestine,” he said.

The GSF, comprising more than 500 activists from over 45 countries, sailed towards Gaza as a symbol of solidarity and an effort to break the Israeli blockade, in addition to sending humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

-- BERNAMA