Kuala lumpur: The Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) has confirmed reports of an attempted intimidation by a military vessel, believed to belong to the Israeli regime, against the two main ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), the Alma and the Sirius, as they sail towards Gaza.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, SNCC Director-General Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby stated that the military vessel not only circled the two ships but was also reported to have disrupted the communication systems on board, including the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) feed. He disclosed that there were suspicious activities involving about 10 drones flying in formation around the flotilla’s space.
“No physical interception has occurred, and the entire delegation is safe and remains on alert,” Dr. Sani Araby said during a press conference today, addressing the latest developments of the GSF. Dr. Sani Araby, who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (MAPIM), noted that the GSF mission ships had entered the last Yellow Zone at 4:20 am Malaysian time.
He further explained that the flotilla is expected to enter Red Zone 3, which is 100 nautical miles from Gaza, starting at 9 pm Malaysian time. In line with the plan, all observer ships, including Shireen from Tunisia and Summertime-Jong from Italy, will not enter the Red Zone.
A live feed of the CCTV footage from the ships has begun broadcasting on the official website, www.sumudnusantara.com, to allow the world community to witness these events and provide recorded evidence should any untoward incident occur. Dr. Sani Araby also called on the people of Malaysia to unite in support of the flotilla mission, emphasizing its commitment to non-violence.
When questioned about the risk of an attack on the GSF, Dr. Sani Araby stated that the delegation is prepared for possible interception upon entering the Red Zone, drawing on previous experiences with missions like the Madleen, Handala, and Mavi Marmara. “We are still in international waters and we are not violating any laws or legality, and this also involves 45 countries. Therefore, we urge national leadership, world leadership, and civil society to use this time to continue observing the ongoing genocide in Gaza, so that we may rise, condemn it, and request political action to be taken at a larger level,” he concluded.