FFC x TMTG: Nine Malaysians Safe, All Activists Detained In Ketziot Prison - MyCARE

SERDANG, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Nine Malaysian activists participating in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (FFC x TMTG) humanitarian mission have been confirmed safe after their vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces yesterday and towed to Ashdod Port, Israel.

Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) chief executive officer Kamarul Zaman Shaharul Anwar said lawyers from the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (ADALAH) informed that all 145 activists involved in the mission had been transferred to Ketziot Prison in the Negev, Israel.

He said the lawyers had also met with seven Malaysian delegates for further legal proceedings.

“The remaining two are expected to be located today (Gaza time),” he said at a press conference on the latest developments concerning the FFC mission here today.

Kamarul Zaman also confirmed that the lawyers had applied to attend all hearings involving the detained activists and would continue to provide updates from time to time.

“Some of them experienced acts of violence during the interception, and the lawyers have requested to meet them later this evening (Gaza time),” he said.

He added that the activists also reported their personal belongings, including clothes and power banks, had been confiscated. However, no serious injuries have been reported so far, and there have been no indications of violence involving the Malaysian delegation.

In addition, Kamarul Zaman said there was a possibility that the three Turkish parliamentarians who joined the flotilla would be deported either tonight or tomorrow morning.

“The tribunal hearing involving all the detained delegates, including those from Malaysia, is expected to be held within the next two days before their release.

Kamarul Zaman said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had yesterday informed that he had contacted his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, regarding the matter, and that diplomatic efforts were underway to facilitate the repatriation of Malaysian activists.

The FFC x TMTG humanitarian mission involved about 150 activists from 25 countries aboard nine ships, including the Conscience and Umm Saad, which were intercepted by Israeli forces yesterday when they were less than 120 nautical miles from Gaza at 10.50 am Malaysian time.

The eight Malaysians on board the Conscience vessel were head of delegation Prof Emeritus Dr Mohd Alauddin, Dr Fauziah Mohd Hassan, Dr Hafiz Sulaiman, Dr Ili Syakira Mohd Suhaimi, Prof Dr Mohd Afandi Salleh, Dr Noorhasyimah Ismail, Norsham Abu Bakar and Astro Awani journalist Syafik Shukri Abdul Jalil. Another Malaysian medical doctor, Dr Maziah Muhammad, was on board the Umm Saad vessel.

-- BERNAMA