BANGI: The Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) has yet to receive any official confirmation on the safety status of 175 Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 activists, including 10 Malaysian participants, who were detained by Israel in international waters 38 hours ago.
SNCC director-general SNCC Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby said while there was initial information that all the activists would be released at Lerapetra Port, Crete, Greece at noon Friday (May 1) Malaysian time, this has yet to be verified.
"The current status (of the information) has yet to be confirmed through official channels and our field group at the port,” he told a special media conference here today.
Sani Araby said they have also been in contact with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has stated his firm stand and condemned the Israeli regime for violating international laws.
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"(The Prime Minister) stated his continued commitment to ensure the release of the participants,” he added.
Sani Araby said the Prime Minister told him that the government, through Wisma Putra, had begun diplomatic efforts by contacting the Malaysian Honorary Consul in Greece and friendly countries to assist and coordinate the process of releasing the activists.
He also called on Malaysians to continue to exert pressure and express their stance on the issue of violations of international law committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza and Palestine.
"SNCC has been informed that efforts will be stepped up together with legal groups from around the world to continue to put pressure on the regime through their respective embassies for their right to be released.
"We ask all Malaysians to pray ... and express whatever they can to reflect sympathy for those detained and also anger at the violations committed by the regime," he said.
Sani Araby also asked MPs from both the government and opposition blocs to unite in putting pressure on the regime's actions that violate human rights by detaining activists in international waters.
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"Tthose who were detained were humanitarian activists... they did not commit any crime by being in international waters," he said.
In addition, he said that the actions of the Zionist regime did not discourage other activists, with the delegations in Greece and Turkey still enthusiastic and ready to continue the voyage.
The 10 Malaysians are Zainal Rashid Ahmad, who was on board the Arkham III, Osman Zolkifli and Dr Jihan Alya Mohd Nordin (Eros 1), Hazwan Hazim Dermawan, Mohd Hanafi Mohd Salim, Ahmad Musa Al-Nuwayri Kamaruzaman and Norhelmi Ab Ghani (Bianca BCN).
Also involved were Mohd Redzal Amzah and Muhamad Muhsin Zaidi, who were on the vessels Freia and Marea respectively, and Mohd Shamsir Mohd Isa (the Esplai).
The GSF 2.0 mission is an international maritime coalition and global mobilisation movement committed to breaking the blockade on Gaza in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region. – Bernama
