Gsf Activists Safe Release Delayed By Yom Kippur Mohamad

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The process to secure the release of 23 Malaysian activists from Israeli detention has been delayed due to the Jewish Yom Kippur religious celebration, said Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan.
Mohamad told a press conference this morning that all government offices in Israel were closed due to the festive event, which had also affected communications with the detainees, who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF).
However, Mohamad assured that the activists were reported to be in safe and good condition, and the Malaysian government is working closely with its counterparts that have embassies in Tel Aviv to secure their release.
“What I want to say here is, don’t worry... I understand their families would surely be concerned (of the activists’ safety), but the government is always monitoring the situation, like what we did when they were sailing.
“While we lost communication after they were detained, we have a legal team from the Arab Minority Rights Centre in Israel (Adalah) who have been appointed since the beginning as legal advisers.
“We have expected this to happen. Thus, all Malaysian citizens who participated in GSF have been briefed not to make any provocation to prevent any harm.
“Insya Allah, we will wait for another one or two days, because there is the Yom Kippur celebration in Israel, so all (offices) were closed and communication was lost.
“Hopefully, this Monday, all the offices will be reopened so we can establish communications with them,” he told the conference held at Sumud Nusantara Command Centre in Sepang.
Detained and kidnapped
Between Oct 1 and Oct 3, Israel detained 42 boats that were sailing towards Gaza in an attempt to break the Zionist regime's blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
The regime’s military had reportedly kidnapped a total of 462 activists onboard the boats when they were in international waters, and brought the detainees to the Ashdod port in Israel before detaining them in a detention facility called Ketziot Camp.
Mohamad said all Malaysian activists have signed the relevant forms to ensure their deportation from Israel. They would be facing trial for allegedly trespassing into Israel as a procedure before they can be deported.
He said Malaysia has made arrangements with the governments of Turkey, Jordan and Egypt to bring back the activists, depending on where they would be released.
According to SNCC director-general Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby, lawyers from Adalah have managed to meet some 20 of the Malaysian activists.
However, several others were still denied access to legal representation and the Malaysian government is liasing with its counterparts that have foreign missions in Tel Aviv to deliver their message to the detainees.
While the activists were safe, Sani Araby said they received a report that Israel had forced detainees to kneel for five hours with their hands zip-tied.
"...this came after some (of the detainees) had chanted 'Free Palestine'. We were also informed that detainees had been denied access to water, toilets, and lawyers," he told the conference.
Peace plan
Mohamad also expressed his optimism that humanitarian aid can soon be sent into Gaza.
This followed Hamas' readiness to accept a 20-point peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, albeit on several conditions.
The foreign minister said Hamas had agreed to release all Israeli hostages on the condition that Israel fully withdraw its military forces from Gaza.
They also agreed to the proposal for Gaza to be administered by an independent body on the condition that it is a professional body that consists only of Palestinians.
"We are glad because Hamas has accepted (the proposal), albeit with several conditions, so (Israel) won't have an excuse to continue attacking Gaza.
"Trump had also issued an order for bombings in Gaza to be stopped.
"We hope this will be a turning point for an everlasting peace in Gaza and the Palestinians can get their own independent country," he said.
Mohamad urged all NGOs that want to send aid into Gaza to get ready and liaise with Wisma Putra. - Mkini

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