TWELVE Malaysian volunteers participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza have been detained by Israeli forces following the interception of several vessels in international waters.
Among those detained are public figures Farah Lee and Danish Nazram, who were aboard the vessel Grande Blu, according to an emergency SOS message posted by Sumud Nusantara on social media.
Other detained Malaysians include Zizi Kirana on the vessel Huga, as well as Haikal Abdullah, Muaz Zainal, Zulfadhli Khairudin, and Rusydi Ramli, all of whom were on the Sirius.
Sisters Heliza and Hazwani Helmi, who were aboard the Hio, are also believed to be in Israeli custody after their ship was boarded early Thursday morning.
Prior to the boarding, the Hio had reportedly come under water cannon attack by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
Additional Malaysians – Iylia Balqis, Ahmad Musa Al-Nuwayri and Sul Aidil – were detained from the vessel Alma.
Reuters reported flotilla organisers saying at least 13 vessels have been intercepted so far, though more than 30 boats remain undeterred and are continuing their journey, reportedly now within 46 nautical miles of Gaza’s coast.
The convoy, organised by the Global Sumud Flotilla, initially consisted of over 40 civilian boats carrying around 500 participants from more than 45 countries, including parliamentarians, lawyers and human rights activists.
Among them is Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was filmed surrounded by Israeli soldiers aboard one of the detained vessels.
According to the flotilla’s Telegram channel, Israeli forces began intercepting vessels once they passed the 70-nautical mile mark offshore.
Organisers also alleged that communications were jammed and that Israeli forces attempted to sink the Maria Cristina, calling the act “a full-fledged war crime.” Contact with another vessel, Adara, has also been lost.
The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed the interceptions, stating: “Several vessels of the Hamas–Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port.” It added that Thunberg and others were “safe and healthy.”
The United Nations has called for calm. “We don’t want anyone to get hurt,” said spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, although he noted the UN Secretary-General does not direct flotilla activities.
Protests Erupt
The attempted aid mission, one of the largest in years, has triggered protests across cities including Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Berlin and Brussels. In Istanbul, demonstrators gathered outside the US consulate, while in Rome, protestors blocked major intersections and metro stations. Italian trade unions have announced a nationwide general strike in response to the incident.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which departed in late August, sought to deliver food and medicine to Gaza in defiance of Israel’s naval blockade, which has been in place since 2007. Organisers maintain the mission is strictly humanitarian and peaceful, aimed at easing the suffering of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents.
Israel, however, has defended its actions, stating that aid must be delivered through official channels and describing unauthorised flotilla attempts as provocative and in violation of security protocols.
News of the naval standoff has sparked protests in multiple cities including Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Berlin and Brussels, where demonstrators called for an end to the blockade and denounced the interceptions.
Italian trade unions have also announced a nationwide general strike in response to the events at sea, while protests outside Israeli diplomatic missions were reported in several European capitals.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail in late August, represents one of the most significant attempts in recent years to break Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza, in place since 2007. Organisers have insisted their mission is peaceful and humanitarian, aimed at addressing Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis.
Israel has maintained that any humanitarian aid must be transferred via official channels and views unauthorised flotilla attempts as “provocative” and in violation of its security protocols. - October 2, 2025
