Freedom Flotilla: Malaysians held by Israel to reach Ashdod by midnight

KUALA LUMPUR: Nine Malaysians detained by Israeli forces during the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (FFC X TMTG) mission are expected to reach Ashdod Port, Israel, around midnight or early Thursday morning, Malaysian time.

AI Brief

Nine Malaysians detained by Israel during are expected to arrive at Ashdod Port around midnight or early Thursday Malaysian time.
Journey deliberately slowed by Israeli forces, taking roughly 11 hours, following a raid on the nine vessels on Wednesday morning.
Diplomatic coordination underway: Malaysia and Turkey are working to repatriate the detained Malaysians and 28 Turkish delegates once released.

According to Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) Chief Executive Officer Kamarul Zaman Shaharul Anwar, the journey to Ashdod is expected to take around 11 hours.

“The vessels are travelling at 11 knots, steered by Israeli personnel who deliberately slowed the journey,” he said in a press conference.

Earlier, Israeli forces raided the nine vessels involved in the FFC X TMTG humanitarian mission at 10:50 a.m. Malaysian time on Wednesday.

The incident involved nine Malaysian delegates, including Astro AWANI journalist Syaff Syukri Abdul Jalil.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has contacted his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, to coordinate their repatriation.

Kamarul added that the Turkish government has agreed to bring home all nine Malaysians and 28 Turkish delegates to Istanbul when they are released from Israeli custody.