Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has advised activists planning to embark on a humanitarian aid mission to Gaza by sea to temporarily postpone their efforts.
He said this was to prevent them from being detained by Israeli authorities, similar to what has happened to activists currently involved in the Sumud Global Flotilla (GSF) mission.
“They will surely be stopped as well. For now, with the consequences of detention, I think it’s wise to pause these sailing missions. Let’s use our wisdom to renegotiate, reorganize, especially regarding the peace agreements being pursued. What matters most is saving lives. Sometimes we speak here as if we are heroes with no limits, but those fighting there have already sacrificed 65,000 lives,” he said.
Anwar spoke to the media after Friday prayers at Masjid Al-Khadijah in Pantai Dalam today.
He stressed that the main responsibility for all parties right now is to save Palestinians suffering under brutal Israeli oppression and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid and food.
“If that can be achieved, it’s already an important beginning. The peace deal once proposed by (former U.S. president) Donald Trump did not meet our expectations, but Arab and Islamic nations seemed to at least give it some form of endorsement—not that they agreed with it fully, but because it could save lives, protect property, and prevent further displacement of Gaza’s people. It also allows those outside Gaza to return, and blocks Israel from advancing further into Gaza. This is the starting point that must be closely monitored,” he said.
Media reports yesterday stated that the third wave of the humanitarian flotilla has already set sail in stages towards Gaza, carrying international journalists, medical experts, parliamentarians, and humanitarian activists.
The mission is organized under the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (TMTG), with 10 boats departing Italy on September 27.
The vessel Conscience also departed from Porto Otranto, Italy, on September 30 with its participants on board.
Nine Malaysian delegates joined the mission across two different vessels. Dr. Maziah Mohammad, a medical doctor, is aboard the yacht Umm Saad (TMTG).
The other eight Malaysians are on the Conscience, including Professor Emeritus Dr. Mohd Alauddin Mohd Ali, the Malaysian delegation leader; medical doctors Dr. Fauziah Mohd Hassan, Dr. Hafiz Sulaiman, and Dr. Ili Syakira Mohd Suhaimi; academics Professor Dr. Mohd Afandi Salleh and Dr. Noorhasyimah Ismail; MyCARE trustee Norsham Abu Bakar; and Astro Awani journalist Syafik Shukri Abdul Jalil.
