KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called Israel's allegations that Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) activists are terrorists as insolent.
He said the GSF's voyage to Gaza was a humanitarian mission aimed at helping the Palestinian people oppressed by the Zionist regime, calling the regime the true terrorist.
"Whose voice is this? From terrorist Israel, the biggest terrorist. These (GSF) participants did not bring weapons, did not kill anyone.
"They brought food, drinks and medicine. How can GSF be called terrorists? This is an insolent statement," he told reporters after performing Friday prayers at Al-Khadijah Mosque, Jalan Pantai Sentral 2, Lembah Pantai here on Friday (Oct 3).
Anwar was responding to remarks by Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who, in video footage, accused the GSF activists detained by the regime of being terrorists.
Meanwhile, Anwar said he had received information that the Malaysian volunteers in the GSF mission remain strong-spirited despite being in Israeli detention.
He said they had made significant contributions in raising global awareness of Zionist atrocities.
"Although some say they did not make it to Gaza, it must be understood that they are confronting a brutal occupying regime.
"What they are going through has opened the eyes of hundreds of millions around the world. They sacrificed, braving the waves at sea, facing uncertainty over their safety, and even had all their phones thrown into the sea," he said.
On Thursday, Sumud Nusantara Command Centre director-general Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby confirmed that 23 Malaysian activists had been detained by Israeli forces after communications were cut off and visuals showed their detention.
The 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).
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 more than 500 activists from 44 countries, sailed towards Gaza as a symbol of solidarity and an effort to break the Israeli blockade.
The humanitarian mission drew global attention with the participation of international figures, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon and Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla Mandela. - Bernama
