KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 38 ships taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) humanitarian mission are now en route to Gaza after departing from the Gulf of Italy yesterday.
The ships are currently in the Mediterranean Sea, heading first to Greece to join another GSF group before continuing to Gaza.
This was shared by a Malaysian participant, activist and former journalist Zainal Rashid Ahmad, in a post on TikTok this morning.
“The first sunset at the Mediterranean Sea is calm. There are nine more sunsets before reaching Gaza.”
Yesterday, Zainal Rashid said the ships had left the Gulf of Italy and were heading to the Mediterranean.
He said 11 Malaysians and a Bruneian, representing Sumud Nusantara, are part of the voyage.
“It will take about 10 days to reach Gaza, including five days to get to Greece first. There, we will meet our comrades waiting for us to join the mission.
“We hope this journey will be safe. May our efforts to break the blockade and silence, the main aim of GSF, succeed.
“Malaysia stands with Gaza, always. Hopefully, our mission to break Israel’s blockade will be successful.”
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called for the GSF to be given safe passage and not be blocked or attacked.
Speaking at the Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit recently, Anwar said the flotilla was not carrying weapons, but hope and aid for the besieged people of Gaza.
The mission involves more than 50 ships and volunteers from 44 countries. They aim to deliver food and medicine to Gaza.
Anwar is patron of Sumud Nusantara.
On Sept 9, the lead ship, Family, was attacked by a drone while docked at Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia. The following night, the ship Alma was assaulted.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
