Kuala lumpur: The Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) has confirmed that nine vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), carrying 16 Malaysians, were intercepted by the Israeli forces as of 8 pm Malaysian time.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, SNCC director-general Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby stated that the vessels were approached aggressively by the forces in international waters near Cyprus. The flotilla was approximately 241 nautical miles from the Gaza coast, in international waters recognized under international maritime law as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and outside any country's blockade.

The 16 Malaysians aboard the vessels include Zainal Rashid Ahmad on the Amanda, Muhamad Muhsin Zaidi on the Isobella, and Mohammad Shazly Mohammad Shees with Tengku Ahmad Taufik Tengku Noor Zahari on the Cactus. Others include S. Patmanathan, Muhammad Amirul Afif Mohd Azhar, and Dr Syakirin Muhamed Senin on the Ferluto, Abdul Samad Selamat with Naufa Azhari on the Bianca ITA, as well as Mohammad Farizzal Rostam and Muhammad Zaid Abdul Karim on the Gotico. Norazman Ishak was on the Abodes, Hazwan Hazim Dermawan, Mohd Shamsir Mohd Isa, and Osman Zolkifli were on Themis, and Ahmad Musa Al-Nuwayri Kamaruzaman was on Josef.

Sani Araby mentioned that SNCC has informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and requested the Malaysian government's intervention to urge the European Union, Trkiye, Spain, and other parties to take action and condemn the attack on the humanitarian mission.

The GSF detainees are expected to be placed in a 'floating prison' before being taken to the port of Ashdod for documentation and deportation. The prison ship, a naval vessel capable of accommodating many people, is used as a detention facility. This tactic by Israel is employed to detain GSF activists for a longer period and to avoid international legal pressure. If taken directly to Ashdod, detainees would be subject to new laws requiring their release within 24 hours.