KELANTAN police have confirmed they are opening an investigation into the display of an Israeli flag during the 500 Pelayaran Solidariti Kelantan untuk Gaza (Kelantan 500-Vessel Solidarity Voyage for Gaza), held in Lembah Sireh two days ago.
State Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusuff Mamat stated that the case will be investigated under Section 3(1) of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1949.
“We will be recording statements from the event organisers in the near future,” he said when contacted.
The display has sparked criticism from segments of the public, who questioned the appropriateness of raising the Israeli flag in Malaysia, a country with no diplomatic ties to Israel.
When contacted, the programme director, Mohd Khairul Hafiz Hassan, confirmed that police had reached out to him but declined to comment further.
The organiser, Pertubuhan Anak Muda Bangkit Malaysia, has defended the action, asserting that the Israeli flag was flown solely as part of a reenactment to reflect what occurred during the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) humanitarian mission.
According to the organisers, the flag was displayed only on a floating stage and was used in a simulated scene intended to provide visitors with a clearer understanding of the events faced by international volunteers.
The event itself attracted close to 10,000 participants and featured nearly 1,000 boats parading along the Kelantan River from Kampung Pulau Pisang to Lembah Sireh, a distance of approximately eight kilometres. Participants waved Palestinian flags in a mass demonstration of solidarity with Gaza.
Israeli flag display at Kelantan Gaza solidarity event was re-enactment, not endorsement
The organisers of a solidarity flotilla in Kelantan have clarified that the controversial hoisting of an Israeli flag during Friday’s ‘500 Pelayaran Solidariti Kelantan untuk Gaza’ event was part of a theatrical re-enactment meant to depict the real-life experiences of Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) volunteers intercepted by Israeli forces.
Mohd Khairul Hafiz Hassan, director of the event organised by Pertubuhan Anak Muda Bangkit Malaysia in collaboration with Komuniti Floating Market Sri Tanjung, said the act was a staged simulation and should not be misinterpreted.
“Do not judge the event based on brief video clips circulating on social media. Most of those criticising the act were not present at the location on the day,” he said when contacted on Sunday.
“Those in attendance understand what truly took place. The Israeli flag was hoisted solely as part of a performance to recreate the situation faced by flotilla volunteers delivering aid to Palestinians.”
According to Mohd Khairul, the sketch was intended to raise awareness of the brutality faced by Palestinians and aid workers.
The scene featured a mock confrontation with Israeli forces, gunfire sound effects, chanting, the recitation of the Qunut Nazila prayer, and a symbolic conclusion where the Israeli flag was torn down and trampled.
The event, held along the Kelantan River on Friday, attracted nearly 20,000 participants and included boat owners, fishermen, influencers, religious schools, NGO representatives, and members of the public.
Slogans such as “Hidup, hidup Palestin! Hancur, hancur Israel!” (Long live Palestine! Down with Israel!) echoed along the riverside, as demonstrators expressed solidarity with the people of Gaza amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
While the event drew widespread support, a clip showing the Israeli flag being flown sparked criticism online, prompting the organisers to issue a public explanation.
Mohd Khairul emphasised that the performance aimed to deliver a powerful message, not to glorify or endorse the Israeli regime.
“The flag was taken down and symbolically destroyed. It was never a gesture of support, but a condemnation through visual storytelling,” he added. - October12, 2025
