All 13 members of Women's Boat To Gaza safe - MyCARE chairman

All 13 members of Women's Boat To Gaza (WBG) on-board Zaytouna-Oliva boat, on a humanitarian mission to Gaza, are safe and alive, said Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) Chairman Assoc Prof Dr Hafidzi Mohd Noor.

The boat was seized by the Israeli navy at about 9.58 pm Malaysian time last night at 42 nautical miles off the Gaza coast and they are now held at the Ashdod Port, he said.

Dr Hafidzi said this in a press conference held at the MyCARE office here today.

Also involved in the mission is Malaysia's sole representative Dr Fauziah Mohd Hasan, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist who is a member of MyCARE board of trustees.

"Based on the latest report from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) operations room, we also confirm that all crew members on the Zaytouna-Oliva ship including Dr Fauziah are safe

Besides that, MyCARE also wants Malaysia to use its position as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to hold an emergency motion criticising Israel's actions against the Zaytouna-Oliva.

MyCARE also urged UNSC to use all existing provisions to ensure the safety of the activists and the crew until they are released.

"The United Nations, European Union, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and all international forums should also play a role by condemning Israel's policy which collectively impose sanctions on Gaza and urge Israel to stop its sanctions," he said.

He said the arrest was very inappropriate considering that the mission's delegates came to Gaza, Palestine peacefully without arms or provocation.

"The members of the mission came to Gaza only with the purpose of bringing a message of solidarity and Israel's actions had clearly violated the international maritime law," he said.

The mission also carried a message for Israel to stop the restriction made against the Palestine for over 10 years.

The 13-member crew of Zaytouna-Oliva were taken as prisoners by the Israeli army around 8:58pm on Wednesday.

According to the Freedom Flotilla website, 12 other members of the boat are:

1. Madeleine Habib, a skipper from Australia

2. Ann Wright, the boat leader and a retired diplomat from United States

3. Marama Davidson, a Member of Parliament from New Zealand

4. Synne Sofie Reksten, a student and crew member from Norway

5. Sandra Barrilaro, a photographer from Spain

6. Samira Douaifia, a Member of Parliament from Algeria

7. Leigh Ann Naidoo, a volleyball champion from South Africa

8. Jeannette Escanilla, a Member of Parliament from Sweden

9. Emma Ringqvist, a crew member and music teacher from Sweden

10. Mairead Maguire, a Nobel Peace Laureate from Northern Ireland

11. Hoda Rakhme, a camerawoman/editor for Al-Jazeera who lives in Moscow

12. Mina Harballou, a correspondent with Al-Jazeera who is based in London

MORE TO FOLLOW