Activists involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 have vowed not to return to Kuala Lumpur, insisting instead that they will continue their maritime mission towards Gaza despite recent detention by Israeli forces.
Former journalist Zainal Rashid Ahmad said the group remains committed to delivering humanitarian aid, stressing that their stop in Istanbul is not a return point but part of the journey towards Gaza.
“We are consistent. Our stop in Istanbul is not to return to Kuala Lumpur, but to continue sailing from Istanbul towards Gaza,” he said in a video clip released today. The footage is believed to have been recorded upon their arrival in Istanbul yesterday.
Zainal and 10 Malaysian delegates, along with 186 other activists, were reportedly detained on 30 April in international waters near Crete, Greece, after Israeli naval forces intercepted their vessels.
He also urged Malaysians to remain united on the Gaza issue and to continue remembering Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. In addition, he called on the Malaysian government to issue a formal protest to Israel demanding the release of detainees Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila, both members of the flotilla steering committee.
According to reports, Israeli authorities have extended the remand of both activists for two more days. Legal representatives from the Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel said earlier that Israel’s Shin Bet had initially sought a four-day remand, citing serious allegations including assisting an enemy during wartime and alleged links to hostile organisations.
The legal group also claimed that the detainees were subjected to harsh treatment during their arrest, including blindfolding and restraint, as tensions continue to rise over the interception of the humanitarian mission.
