KUALA LUMPUR: Wisma Putra has reached out to the authorities in Turkiye and the United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in efforts to expedite the release of nine Malaysian activists from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens To Gaza (FFC x TTMG) humanitarian mission detained by Israeli forcesm says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The Foreign Minister said this when speaking at the "Himpunan Solidariti Bersama Gaza" at Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil here Wednesday (Oct 8) night, which was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"We will make every effort to secure the release of the nine activists as soon as possible, just as we succeeded in helping to free the 23 Malaysian activists who took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla (previously detained by Israel)," he said.
Earlier, Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) chairman Datuk Seri Prof Dr Kamal Nasharuddin Mustapha said all nine boats involved in the FFC x TTMG humanitarian mission were illegally seized by Israel, including the one carrying nine Malaysian volunteers, at 10.50am Malaysian time.
Eight Malaysians were on board the Conscience - Malaysian delegation leader Prof Emeritus Dr Mohd Alauddin, Dr Fauziah Mohd Hassan, Dr Hafiz Sulaiman, Dr Ili Syakira Mohd Suhaimi, Prof Dr Mohd Afandi Salleh, Dr Noorhasyimah Ismail, Norsham Abu Bakar and Astro Awani journalist Syafik Shukri Abdul Jalil - while another medical doctor, Dr Maziah Muhammad, was aboard the Umm Saad.
Meanwhile, Mohamad stressed that Malaysia would continue to speak out in defence of Palestinian freedom on the international stage.
"Malaysia will keep pressing for the immediate establishment of an independent Palestinian state. During the recent United Nations General Assembly, many countries expressed their support and recognition of a free Palestine.
"We are confident that the establishment of an independent Palestine will soon become a reality," he said. - Bernama
