All 23 Malaysians from Global Sumud Flotilla Set to Return Home on October 7

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 6: The 23 Malaysian participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) are scheduled to arrive home on Tuesday night (Oct 7) after being detained and later released by Israeli authorities.

According to Datuk Dr. Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby, Director-General of the Sumud Nusantara Operations Centre (SNCC), the aircraft carrying the group is expected to land at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at approximately 9.45 pm.

The Malaysians were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian mission, which aimed to deliver aid to Gaza. However, on October 2, the flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces while in the Red Zone of the Mediterranean Sea, and all participants were taken to the port of Ashdod, Israel, for detention.

After several days of diplomatic coordination and international pressure, the group was released and departed from Ramon Airport, Israel, at 6.45 pm Malaysian time on Sunday, arriving safely in Istanbul at 8.40 pm.

Among those detained were several well-known Malaysian personalities and activists, including Heliza Helmi and her sister Nur Hazwani Afiqah (vessel Hio), Nurfarahin Romli (Farah Lee) and Danish Nazran Murad (Grande Blu), Blu),Singer Zizi Kirana (Huga), Musa Nuwayri, Iylia Balqis, and Sul Aidil (Alma), Haikal Abdullah, Muaz Zainal, Zulfadhli Khiruddin, and Rusydi Ramli (Sirius), Razali Awang (Inana), Influencer Nurul Hidayah Mohd Amin (Ardell Aryana) (Mikeno), PU Rahmat, Norhelmi Ab Ghani, Mohd Asmawi Mukhtar, and Norazman Ishak (Estrella), Zainal Rashid and Ustaz Muhammad Abdullah (Fair Lady), Muhammad Hareez Adzrami (Haroqs), Muhd Haikal Luqman Zulkefli, and Taufiq Mohd Razif (Free Willy)

The Global Sumud Flotilla, involving participants from various countries, set sail to challenge the long-standing Israeli blockade on Gaza and to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians facing severe shortages.

Their safe release and return have been widely welcomed by Malaysian humanitarian groups, activists, and government officials, who praised their courage, sacrifice, and commitment to the Palestinian cause.