Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that pro-Palestinian activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) intercepted by its naval forces will be deported.
“The Hamas-Sumud passengers on their sailboat are safely and securely en route to Israel, where procedures for deportation to Europe will begin. The passengers are safe and healthy,” the ministry stated on X (formerly Twitter), following the interception of several ships heading to Gaza.
Earlier, media reports confirmed that 12 ships participating in the humanitarian GSF mission were intercepted by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean Sea around 2:51 a.m. local time. Among them, 11 Malaysian activists and volunteers were detained.
Following the incident, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called for the immediate release of all detained Malaysian and international activists, stressing that the mission was a civilian, unarmed humanitarian effort delivering aid to Gaza.
In total, at least 201 humanitarian activists from 36 countries were reported detained by Israeli forces after the GSF mission to Gaza was intercepted late Wednesday night. Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri Kamaruzaman, CEO of Cinta Gaza Malaysia (CGM), confirmed that the number included 12 Malaysians.
“As of 4 a.m. Gaza time, 201 people from 36 countries were detained by Israeli forces. The highest numbers are from Spain (30), Italy (22), Turkey (21), and Malaysia (12). Alhamdulillah, all have been reported safe,” he posted on Facebook.
