NINE Malaysians involved in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousand Medleens to Gaza (TMTG) humanitarian mission to Palestine are expected to arrive home this afternoon, following their recent detention by Israeli authorities.
According to the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the group is en route from Istanbul, Türkiye, and is scheduled to land at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at 3.55pm on Sunday, 12 October, via Saudia Airlines flight SV834 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“Their arrival is expected this Sunday afternoon,” the ministry confirmed in a media invitation.
The Malaysian delegation comprises Mission Leader Prof Emeritus Dr Mohd Alauddin Mohd Ali, Dr Fauziah Hassan, Dr Hafiz Sulaiman, Dr Ili Syakira Mohd Suhaimi, academics Prof Dr Mohd Afandi Salleh and Dr Noorhasyimah Ismail, journalist Syafik Shukri Abdul Jalil, MyCARE Trustee Norsham Abu Bakar, and activist Dr Maziah Muhammad.
On Wednesday, nine vessels — Abd Elkarim Eid, Alaa Al-Najjar, Anas Al Sharif, Conscience, Gaza Sunbird, Leila Khaled, Milad, Soul of My Soul and Umm Saad — were intercepted by Israeli forces while sailing in the yellow zone, approximately 120 nautical miles from Gaza.
All vessels were subsequently escorted to Ashdod Port, and 145 activists were detained and transferred to Ketziot Prison for further action by Israeli authorities.
The Conscience, carrying eight Malaysians, reached port at 12.45am, while the final vessel, *Umm Saad*, arrived at 6am Malaysia time with one remaining Malaysian on board, Dr Maziah Muhammad.
The humanitarian mission, coordinated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Medleens to Gaza, set sail on 27 September from Italy.
The Conscience departed from Porto Otranto on 30 September with international participants from 25 countries. MyCARE led the Malaysian contingent, joining around 150 activists in total. - October12, 2025
