Women's Boat to Gaza carrying Malaysian activist captured by Israeli forces

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).

Malaysia's Dr Fauziah Mohd Hasan was among the 13 female humanitarian activists from 12 countries onboard Zaytouna-Oliva -- heading towards Gaza -- before it was captured by Israeli navy around 35 nautical miles from the coast.

Dr Fauziah with the other delegates set out with a sole mission and hope to free Gaza from Israeli's illegal blockade on Gaza after the land routes to the strip were blocked by Israel and Egypt.

The other delegates were from Tunisia, Israel, Algeria, Canada, Turkey, United States, Sweden, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.

The Zaytouna-Oliva set sail at 8pm on Sept 14 (Barcelona time) from Port Vell and stopped at Ajaccio (first leg of the journey) on Sept 19 before proceeding to Messina (second leg of the journey).

Dr Fauziah's husband, Profesor Dr Alauddin Mohd Ali when contacted by Astro AWANI late Wednesday night, said he received news about the capture from MyCare representative and the organiser, Freedom for Flotilla Coalition (FFC).

"My family is prepared as we have expected the worst and it would be the Israeli forces intercepting the ship. When she was offered to join the mission, both of us have agreed that we have prepared for any untoward incidents," said Dr Alauddin.

Dr Fauziah, who was also MyCARE Board of Trustee (BOT) member is an experienced obstetrician and gynaecologist.

Among other activists onboard Zaytouna are the 1976 Nobel Prize winner, Mairead Maguire of Ireland, member of Parliament for the Green Party in New Zealand Marama Davidson, American director and scriptwriter Naomi Wallace, academic expert from Norway Gerd Von Der Lippe and Turkey's coach and athlete Cigdem Topçuoglo

"The Zaytouna ship is expected to be towed by the Israeli military to the port of Ashdod," according to a statement by MyCare.

Meanwhile, MyCare will hold a press conference on the matter at its headquarters at 10am, today.

READ: Women's Boat to Gaza set to approach Gaza's coastal waters

Dubbed "Women's Boat to Gaza", it is part of the wider FFC that consists of pro-Palestinian boats that regularly seek to go to Gaza to try to break the blockade.

One such operation turned to tragedy in 2010 when Israeli commandos killed 10 Turkish activists in a raid on Mavi Marmara, the boat which was carrying humanitarian activists and Press members from all over the world.