Zaytouna-Oliva capture: Wisma Putra works towards early release of Malaysian

Wisma Putra is currently monitoring the developments surrounding the detention of the boat Zaytouna-Oliva, in which a Malaysian is reported to be among the 13-member Women’s Boat to Gaza.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Putrajaya is working towards the early release of the Malaysian individual, namely Dr Fauziah Mohd Hasan, it said in a statement today.

"The ministry is currently in communication with several parties to ensure the safety and well-being of the Malaysian involved," it added.

It was reported last night, Women's Boat to Gaza - the all-female entourage made up of 13 humanitarian activists including a Malaysian representative - making its way to besieged Gaza strip has been captured by Israeli forces at approximately 2.58pm local time (8.58pm Malaysian time).

According to the Israel navy, they intercepted the sailboat to prevent it from breaking the country's decade-long blockade of the Gaza Strip, saying it was boarded without incident and being taken ashore.

Dr Fauziah is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist who has been on various humanitarian missions including to Gaza post December 2008 war.

She sits at the Board of Trustees of Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE), a non-profit organisation which unites all humanitarian efforts under one umbrella.

MyCARE has 6 humanitarian agencies, namely Aqsa Syarif, i4Syria, Rose2Rose, NICE, PACE and Salam Iraq.

On 23 October 2014 at the Multaqa Ruwwad Fil Alam Al-Islami in Istanbul, Dr Fauziah was conferred the International Activist for Palestinian Cause of the year by the International Coalition for Palestine and Jerusalem (al-I’tilaf).