20 Malaysians join aid flotilla to Gaza

KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty (20) Malaysians will be joining various international civil societies onboard an aid flotilla to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by sea following the dire humanitarian situation in the region.

Farwina Faroque, a member of the board of directors for the Friends of Palestine Network of Advocacy and Solidarity, shared on social media that the mission involving selected Malaysians is focused on breaking the naval blockade on Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid.

"We are starting our journey," said Farwina, sharing her posts about the participating Malaysians at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Thursday as they prepare to fly to Turkiye - where the flotilla is expected to start sailing from Istanbul at the end of this month.

Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCare) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Kamal Nashruddin Mustapha said in a press conference recently that the 20 Malaysians consist of doctors, humanitarian activists, and media practitioners.

Among the Malaysian media practitioners joining the flotilla are broadcast journalists from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Muhammad Hafizuddin Mohd Yusof, and Bernama TV's cameraman, Mohammad Nulhakim Jailan.

Activists from 30 countries including Malaysia are scheduled to converge in Istanbul on April 18 for final preparation in conjunction with the 'Break the Siege of Gaza Freedom Flotilla' mission, he said.

-- BERNAMA