SEPANG — Eight Malaysians in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 mission have been detained by Israeli Forces as of 6 pm Malaysian time today after the vessels they were on were intercepted while en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) confirmed the arrest of activist Zainal Rashid Ahmad at 5 pm while sailing aboard the vessel Amanda.
Another arrested was Muhamad Muhsin Zaidi on board the Isobella which was intercepted at 5.20 pm.
Three others on the Ferluto — S. Patmanathan, Muhammad Amirul Afif Mohd Azhar and Dr Syakirin Muhamed Senin — were detained at 4.50 pm.
Two more, Mohammad Syazly Mohammad Shees and Tengku Ahmad Taufik Tengku Noor Zahari were also detained after their vessel, the Cactus, was intercepted at 4 pm.
The eighth activist, Ahmad Musa Al-Nuwayri Kamaruzzaman, who was sailing on the Josef/Yusuf, was detained at 5.35 pm.
SNCC director-general Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby said the flotilla was about 241 nautical miles from the Gaza coast when it was intercepted, within recognised international waters protected under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“The IOF adopted provocative tactics by deploying several rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) towards the flotilla, while the presence of two warships and a prison ship was also detected near the flotilla’s operational area,” he told a press conference here today.
Sani Araby said 11 flotilla vessels had been intercepted, approached and subjected to direct interference by Israeli forces.
He said two other individuals detained involved Sumud Nusantara delegates Abdul Sattar Edhi Muhammad Saad from Pakistan, who was aboard the Zio Faster, and Indonesian national Andi Anga Prasadewa, who was travelling on the Josef.
Sani Araby said 41 flotilla vessels, including those carrying 21 Malaysians, were continuing their voyage to Gaza despite facing extremely high security risks due to ongoing threats of interception, harassment and aggressive action by Israeli forces.
“SNCC is closely monitoring the latest developments involving the flotilla operation and will continue to provide official updates from time to time regarding the safety status and movement of the flotilla.
“SNCC also calls on the international community, human rights organisations and the global maritime community to give serious attention to the intimidation and security threats faced by this civilian humanitarian mission in international waters,” he said.
The actions of the Israeli forces has been condemned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who demanded the immediate release of the activists.
Anwar in a statement this evening said Israel had acted brazenly in violating human rights and international law.
He denounced the Zionist regime’s evil and green in closing off humanitarian aid, suppressing voices and oppressing those who defended the Palestinians. - May 18, 2026
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