SEPANG: All 23 Malaysian volunteers from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) currently detained in Israel are expected to be flown out of Ashdod in 48 hours.
Sumud Nusantara Flotilla Command Centre (SNCC) director-general and spokesman Datuk Dr Sani Araby Alim said the positive development follows the continuous efforts by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"With the efforts from the PM and the Turkiye President, SNCC expects the phase to fly them from Ashdod will take place within 48 hours," he said in a press conference here on Friday (Oct 3).
Sani Araby said as of now, the diplomatic negotiations are at a maximum level between the PM along with leaders from Turkiye, Qatar, the United States and a few other strategic friendly nations to ensure an immediate release of the Malaysian volunteers.
"God willing, in just a little bit more time, we would be able to welcome them home to Malaysia, either from Ankara or Istanbul," he said.
Sani Araby said the efforts to bring the Malaysians home will be led by the Turkiye government, with the positive development being informed to him by Anwar Ibrahim himself earlier.
He said Anwar also gave his assurance that he will personally lead the negotiation process alongside the Turkiye President as well as the Foreign Ministry, also known as Wisma Putra.
He added that Malaysia, along with Turkiye, are expected to be the first few nations to bring home its countrymen.
Among the 23 detained Malaysians are singer Heliza Helmi and her sister, Nur Hazwani Afiqah, who were aboard the Hio; Nurfarahin Romli and Danish Nazran Murad (Grande Blu); singer Zizi Kirana (Huga); Musa Nuwayri, Iylia Balqis and Sul Aidil (Alma); Haikal Abdullah, Muaz Zainal, Zulfadhli Khiduddin and Rusydi Ramli (Sirius).
The remaining individuals are Razali Awang (Inana); influencer Nurul Hidayah Mohd Amin, also known as Ardell Aryana (Mikeno); PU Rahmat, Norhelmi Ab Ghani, Mohd Asmawi Mukhtar and Norazman Ishak (Estrella); Zainal Rashid and Ustaz Muhammad (Fair Lady); as well as Muhammad Hareez Adzrami (also known as Haroqs), Muhd Haikal Luqman Zulkefli and Taufiq Mohd Razif (Free Willy).
The GSF, comprising over 500 activists from 45 countries, had embarked on a voyage toward Gaza as a gesture of solidarity and an effort to break the Israeli blockade.
The flotilla was sailing across the Mediterranean carrying vital food and medical supplies, bearing a message of peace that demands an end to the war and famine, and the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors to Gaza. — Bernama
