Jerusalem: The Sumud Nusantara Command Center (SNCC) has strongly condemned alleged acts of violence, mental torture, and intimidation by Israeli extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir and Israeli naval forces against unarmed humanitarian activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, SNCC director-general Datuk Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby stated that the reported actions violate international humanitarian law and United Nations resolutions. He emphasized that such conduct also contravenes the Rome Statute, under which torture, assault, or inhumane treatment of detainees constitutes a serious breach of the Geneva Conventions. At a press briefing on the latest developments involving the GSF 2.0 mission, he remarked, 'These actions reveal the true face of an apartheid regime that continues to operate beyond the bounds of humanity.'
Earlier, a viral video posted online by Ben-Gvir reportedly showed detained activists with their hands tied and being forced to kneel after being intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. Yesterday, SNCC reported that all 50 vessels of the GSF 2.0 flotilla carrying 428 activists from 40 countries had been intercepted about 80 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.
Sani Araby noted conflicting statements from Israeli leaders regarding Ben-Gvir's actions, indicating internal divisions within the Israeli administration. He highlighted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside the foreign minister and Israel's ambassador to the United States, had described the actions as inconsistent with Israel's values and reckless.
Sani Araby also mentioned that SNCC had received information, which was also published in colonial newspapers, that some of the kidnapped activists were expected to be transferred to Ketziot Prison in Israel soon. Legal teams from the Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (CENTHRA), working with the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights (ADALAH), are ready at Ashdod port, where detained activists, including Malaysians, are reportedly being held. He confirmed that the flotilla's humanitarian activists, including Malaysians, are in stable condition and are awaiting permission to meet. Additionally, at least 87 detained activists have begun a large-scale hunger strike in protest against what they describe as unlawful detention and mistreatment.