Malaysian humanitarian activist Mohamad Nadir has confirmed that members of the Global Solidarity Fleet (GSF), who were detained by the Israeli military, arrived at Israel's Ashdod port on Thursday (2nd).
He, who is also the CEO of Malaysian For Gaza Group (CGM) and leader of Sumud Nusantara, wrote on Facebook Thursday night that the legal team for the Global Solidarity Fleet has begun contacting those detained to provide legal assistance.
"Thank God, those resilient heroes and heroines who were detained have gradually arrived at the occupied territory’s Ashdod port. The lawyers for the Global Solidarity Fleet have started contacting them to provide legal services."
Reportedly, Mohamad Nadir and three other Malaysian volunteers remain in the Mediterranean, on board an observer ship named "Jong Melayu" (Malay Ship).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier announced that the 23 Malaysians detained by Israel on Thursday during participation in the Global Solidarity Fleet's humanitarian mission are currently safe and healthy, and will be repatriated via a third country.
Among the detained Malaysians are singer Heliza and her sister Norhazwani on the Hio vessel, Norfarahim and Danis on the Grande Blu vessel, singer Zee Zikirana on the Huga vessel, Musa Nuwairi, Ilya, and Suhaidi on the Alma vessel, and Haikal Abdullah, Muaz, Zufarli, and Rusdi on the Sirius vessel.
Meanwhile, five Malaysian lawyers and human rights activists have arrived in Amman, Jordan, to ensure the detained Malaysians receive transparent and just legal protection. The five are Diel Kizwang, Fahmi Abdul Moin, Azril, Ahmad Nazlin, and Luqman Mazlan.
The legal team will represent the detained Malaysians and contact lawyers from ADALAH, the Arab Minority Rights Legal Center in Israel, and work together with international lawyers to proceed with relevant legal procedures.
The Global Solidarity Fleet, consisting of over 500 volunteers from 44 countries, set sail for Gaza as a symbol of unity. They aimed to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver essential supplies to assist Palestinians who have long suffered attacks from Zionist forces.
In addition to Malaysians, this humanitarian mission also saw the involvement of climate activist Greta Thunberg, Hollywood actors Susan Sarandon and Liam Cunningham, former Mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau, four Italian Members of Parliament, and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela.
The Global Solidarity Fleet, carrying food, medicine, and messages of peace, crossed the Mediterranean, demanding an immediate ceasefire, end to the hunger crisis, and the opening of humanitarian corridors into Gaza.