GSF 2.0 activists return to KLIA after Israeli detention; one stable after lung surgery in Istanbul following assault injury

SEPANG, May 25 — A total of 28 Malaysians who were detained by the Israeli army in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 humanitarian mission to Gaza arrived home safely last night.

All of them, together with Sumud Nusantara Command Center (SNCC) director-general Datuk Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby, departed from Istanbul International Airport, Turkiye at 2.21 am (local time) yesterday and then transited in Dubai, United Arab Emirates before continuing their journey back home on Emirates flight EK342 which landed at 9.30pm last night at KLIA Terminal 1.

Their arrival was greeted by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Sik Member of Parliament Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman and more than 100 family members of activists and supporters of Palestine with chants of “Free Free Palestine” and Allahuakbar while waving the Palestinian flag.

Tears of joy, tears of gratitude and tight hugs between family members and comrades accompanied the moments of the meeting.

All 28 volunteers involved were Norazman Ishak; Muhammad Hareez Adzrami; Nor Liyana Farhan Daud; Zainal Rashid Ahmad; Ahmad Musa Al-Nuwayri Kamaruzaman; Hazwan Hazim Dermawan; Norhelmi Ab Ghani; Mohd Hanafi Mohd Salim; and Mohd Shamsir Mohd Isa.

Also joining the mission were Mohd Redzal Amzah; Muhammad Zaid Abdul Karim; Al-Ahmad Shah Abdul Kadir; Mohammad Farizzal Rostam; Chin Shiau Weai; Abdul Samad Selamat; Mohammad Shazly Mohammad Shees; Tengku Ahmad Taufik Tengku Noor Zahari; Syed Aminul Syafiq Syed Iskandar and Osman Zulkifli.

Other participants included Jihan Alya Mohd Nordin; Muhammad Amirul Afif Mohd Azhar; S. Patmanathan; Syakirin Muhamad Senin; Muhammad Muhsin Zaidi; Abdul Rahim Abdul Razak; Eddy Noor Mat Amin; Noor Thanisah Mohamad Tajudin and Naufa Azhar.

Another activist, Razman Mat Ali, is still in Istanbul, Turkey, for treatment of a “traumatic pneumothorax” or a punctured lung after being punched by Israeli soldiers.

Previously, SNCC confirmed that all 50 GSF 2.0 mission ships carrying 430 humanitarian activists, including 29 Malaysians, had been kidnapped by Israel.

The ship carrying GSF 2.0 humanitarian mission volunteers was intercepted by Israeli forces near the waters of Cyprus on May 18.

Meanwhile, Sani Arabi in a press conference said Razman had successfully undergone surgery and was in stable condition.

He said Razman was expected to be allowed to return home and fly to Malaysia within 21 days.

According to him, the Sumud group had visited Razman and two representatives from the legal team from the Center for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (CENTHRA) had taken recordings and statements from him to be used as evidence in international legal action against Israel.

“The Turkish government has informed us that they will take care of him and we also have representatives from Sumud Nusantara who are accompanying him and I think what Razman is facing is not an isolated story,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sani Arabi stressed that the injuries suffered by Razman were not an isolated case because all the delegations also faced rough treatment and physical abuse throughout their detention.

Regarding GSF 2.0, Sani Arabi described the mission, which recorded 960 hours or 40 days of sailing across the Mediterranean Sea, is now inscribed in the history of humanity as a collective global effort with a concrete and clear objective to break the siege and deliver emergency aid to Gaza.

“This mission has not only been recognised, but has also succeeded in sparking global outrage as the colonial regime acts like pirates and bandits in an internationally owned zone.

“SNCC affirms that GSF 2.0 has created an extraordinary wave of international solidarity in the history of modern humanitarian struggle when it brought together activists, parliamentarians, media practitioners, doctors, lawyers and 422 activists from 40 countries (to gather) to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and oppose the barbaric blockade on Gaza,” he said.

Amirudin in his speech said the Malaysian government and state government expressed their commitment to bringing international conferences and meetings on Palestine to Malaysia, in the future.

“We want every aspect of this struggle to be developed, strengthened, and lead to the liberation of Gaza that has been dreamed of for so long,” he said. — Bernama 

المصدر: Malay Mail