The Gaza Freedom Flotilla has been suspended, participants advised to return, says representative

ISTANBUL: The atmosphere was sombre at the Hotel Tugra dining hall after all the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) participants were advised to return to their respective countries due to the Republic of Guinea Bissau's decision to withdraw permission to use its flag on the main ship, Akdeniz (Mediterranean).

This matter was communicated by Ann Wright, a member of the FFC Steering Committee, during a meeting with all the delegations in Fatih, Istanbul on Friday evening.

"We have decided that it is best to say a new flag registration (certificate of flag) for the ship will not be obtainable in the near future. It’s also sad we had to ask all participants to go home," she said.

On Thursday, the FFC stated that Israel was pressuring the Republic of Guinea Bissau to withdraw the registration or licence from the main ship.

This, according to the FFC, triggered a request for additional inspections from the country the ship was registered in, which postponed the April 26 voyage.

The third delay had a deep impact, with the sound of crying breaking the silence in the hotel dining hall.

The accommodating actions of that republic had significant implications, where the passenger ship Akdeniz could not begin its journey because according to the law, any ship entering international waters must fly the flag of the country under which the ship is registered throughout the journey.

A cargo ship carrying urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza with a capacity of 5,000 tonnes, registered with the same country, also faced the same situation and had to return to a port in Turkey.

Wright also informed that all the delegations involved would be recalled and placed on the main list to participate in the second flotilla voyage later.

"After we manage all matters, port preparations, and flag registration for the ship, you will all be on the priority list for recall," she added.

On this voyage, 18 Malaysians joined the international civil society in sailing aboard a flotilla to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by sea following the dire humanitarian situation in the region.

The Chairman of Humanitarian Care Malaysia Berhad (MyCARE), Datuk Seri Dr. Kamal Nasaruddin Mustapha, stated in a previous media briefing that the 18 Malaysians consisted of doctors, humanitarian activists, and media practitioners.

Among the Malaysian media practitioners who joined the flotilla were writer and broadcast journalist from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Muhammad Hafizuddin Mohd Yusof and Bernama TV cameraman Mohammad Nulhakim Jailan.

Activists from 30 countries including Malaysia gathered in Istanbul from April 18 for final preparations in conjunction with the "Break the Siege: Freedom Flotilla Mission to Gaza 2024" mission.

The original voyage date was April 21. It was then postponed twice to April 24 and April 26. - Bernama