NINE VESSELS IN FFC X TTMG GAZA MISSION INTERCEPTED BY ISRAEL – MYCARE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- All nine vessels participating in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (FFC x TTMG) humanitarian mission, including two with nine Malaysians on board, were intercepted and illegally seized by Israel at about 10.50 am Malaysian time today.

Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) chairman Datuk Seri Prof Dr Kamal Nasharuddin Mustapha said they lost contact with the volunteers on board the vessels at 10.03 am.

“The first vessel, Sun Bird, under TTMG, was captured around the 120-nautical-mile mark (from Gaza), followed by eight other vessels, including Conscience. The last to be intercepted was Umm Saad,” he said at a press conference at MyCARE headquarters today.

He said the Malaysians aboard Conscience included Malaysian delegation head Prof Emeritus Dr Mohd Alauddin, Dr Fauziah Mohd Hassan, Dr Hafiz Sulaiman and Dr Ili Syakira Mohd Suhaimi.

Prof Dr Mohd Afandi Salleh, Dr Noorhasyimah Ismail, Norsham Abu Bakar and Astro Awani journalist Syafik Shukri Abdul Jalil were also on Conscience, while another medical doctor, Dr Maziah Muhammad, was on Umm Saad.

Dr Kamal Nasharuddin said the families of all Malaysian volunteers had been informed, and MyCARE would do its best to assist in providing support and facilities to family members following developments at its headquarters.

He said MyCARE had also notified Wisma Putra and expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Malaysian government for addressing the situation.

“The Prime Minister has also expressed his intention to assist these participants and secure their release through Malaysia’s diplomatic ties with friendly nations,” he said, adding that lawyers from the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (ADALAH) had been notified of the detentions and were ready to obtain further information.

MyCARE chief executive officer Kamarul Zaman Shaharul Anwar said at the same press conference that the sailing boats were intercepted at sea, while the ship Conscience was intercepted from the air due to its height.

“We didn’t expect it to happen this early, as previous interceptions usually occurred within 100 nautical miles, but this time it was about 120 nautical miles,” he said.

Earlier, the Prime Minister said the seizure of vessels carrying aid for the people of Gaza was inhumane and violated the fundamental principles of human rights and universal human dignity.

The humanitarian mission aimed to provide live coverage and deliver aid to Gaza, which remains under blockade and siege by Israel.

In total, about 150 volunteers from 25 countries took part in the mission, with MyCARE leading the Malaysian delegation.

-- BERNAMA