PUTRAJAYA, April 30 (Bernama) -- The Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring the situation and actively gathering information on the condition and safety of all Malaysians on board the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), following its interception by Israeli military in international waters on April 29.
The ministry, in a statement on Thursday, said preliminary reports indicate that there are 36 Malaysian personnel representing various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on board the flotilla.
“These individuals are understood to be scattered throughout the humanitarian fleet. The Ministry treats the safety and well-being of its citizens as its absolute highest priority and is managing this matter with the utmost urgency.”
It added that as Malaysia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, the Ministry has instructed Malaysian diplomatic missions in the surrounding region to urgently reach out to their respective government counterparts and relevant international agencies.
This immediate diplomatic coordination aims to secure official confirmation of the incident and ascertain the exact whereabouts and condition of the Malaysian NGO personnel, it said.
“Given the fluid and breaking nature of these events, the Ministry is working around the clock to gather verified intelligence from the ground,” it said, adding that it will continue to provide more information as the situation develops and as official facts are established.
In a separate statement earlier, the ministry has strongly condemned the provocation and illegal interception by the Israeli military on the humanitarian vessels, calling it a blatant violation of international maritime law and international humanitarian law.
It demanded the military to immediately cease all forms of harassment against the humanitarian mission to ensure safe and unhindered delivery of aid as well as the safety of all international activists on board.
“Malaysia reiterates that the GSF is a peaceful humanitarian initiative aimed at delivering vital medical supplies and food to help stabilise a decimated healthcare system, and provide relief to a population facing genocide and starvation in Gaza,” the statement read.
It called upon the United Nations Security Council and the international community to take decisive action to hold the Israeli regime accountable for its persistent violations of international law.
Malaysia reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause.
Earlier, it was reported that 10 Malaysian humanitarian activists were among the 186 activists aboard 22 vessels under GSF 2.0 mission, which were intercepted and boarded by Israel forces en route to Gaza.
According to the Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC), 175 activists, including 10 Malaysians, have so far been abducted and taken to Israel.
-- BERNAMA
