23 Malaysians on Global Sumud Flotilla detained by Israel taken to Istanbul on Oct 4: Anwar
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
A demonstration outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 2 against Israeli forces' interception of vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla and the detention of Malaysian activists.
PHOTO: EPA
Follow topic:
PETALING JAYA – The Malaysians involved in the intercepted Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) have been released from Israel’s detention and will first be sent to Istanbul before returning home.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had agreed to facilitate the return of the 23 Malaysian volunteers following lengthy negotiations
“Yesterday, three of the Malaysians were reluctant to sign the deportation orders from Israel, but our opinion is that they should agree to it... and bring all of them back, and we can discuss our plans from there.
“So 23 of them are now on the way to the Ramon Airport in southern Israel with a special flight to bring them to Istanbul,” said Datuk Seri Anwar in a video on Oct 4.
The Malaysians would stay in Turkey for a day or so before coming home to Malaysia, he added.
This allows them to undergo health and wellness checks and receive any additional post-trauma support they may need.
“They will come back (to Malaysia), maybe on the night of Oct 5 or the day after. We are still in the midst of arranging that,” he said.
The GSF, comprising over 500 activists from 45 countries, had embarked on a voyage towards Gaza
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.
Mr Anwar said the flotilla had succeeded in part of its mission, as it brought awareness to hundreds of millions of people worldwide
Meanwhile, Mr Anwar said Malaysia would give its limited support to the deal struck
This was because, he said, Palestine’s freedom and independence must be guaranteed.
“But this decision made by the Madani government is, of course, tied to the decisions made by the Arab countries, the Islamic countries and the decision from Hamas itself,” Mr Anwar added.
Mr Trump had previously secured Mr Netanyahu’s backing on a US-sponsored peace proposal in late September to end the war in Gaza. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
