PETALING JAYA: Singer-actors Heliza and Hazwani Helmi are among the Malaysian Global Sumud Flotilla volunteers held by Israeli forces after their vessel was intercepted.
According to the GSF Flotilla Tracker, the vessel the two sisters were on – Hio – was intercepted by Israeli forces.
An SOS video released by Sumud Nusantara Official indicated they have been detained.
“My name is Heliza Hilmi. I am a citizen of Malaysia. If you are watching this video, it means I have been abducted and taken against my will by Israeli forces,” she said.
“Our humanitarian mission was peaceful, non-violent and fully in compliance with international law.
“I urgently appeal to the Malaysian government, especially the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to demand my immediate and unconditional release. Thank you,” she added.
Hazwani’s video was also released on the same page.
Humanitarian activist Nurfarahin Romli, also known as Farah Lee, and Danish Nazram, who were sailing on the Grande Blue vessel, have also been detained.
Their SOS videos have also been released.
The Sumud Nusantara Command Centre confirmed that eight other Malaysians, including singer Zizi Kirana, whose real name is Nur Fazelah Mad Tahil, have been detained by Israeli forces.
Others confirmed detained are Musa Nuwayri, Iylia Balqis and Sul Aidil from the vessel Alma, while Haikal Abdullah, Muaz Zainal, Zulfadhli Khairudin and Rusydi Ramli were on Sirius.
Earlier, Israeli naval forces intercepted several GSF vessels, namely Aurora, Adara, Alma, Deir Yassine (Mali), Grande Blue, Huga, Spectre, Sirius and Yulara, which were en route to Gaza.
International climate activist Greta Thunberg was also sailing on the vessel Alma.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted on X that several vessels have been stopped.
“Greta and her friends are safe and healthy,” it said, with a video of Thunberg retrieving her belongings.
GSF is a 45-vessel mission carrying humanitarian supplies and international activists to assist the people of Gaza.
The mission left Spain in September, aiming to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory, where the United Nations says famine has set in.
