Malaysian volunteers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, representing Sumud Nusantara, return home on October 7, 2025. (Ahmad Ali Karim via Wikimedia)
Malaysia strongly condemned the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0—a multinational humanitarian convoy of 70 ships—in international waterways by Israeli authorities on April 29, reaffirming the mission’s primary aims to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza to deliver food and medical supplies.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the act as “harassment against the humanitarian mission” and confirmed that it would closely monitor the situation. The ministry further urged the United Nations Security Council and international bodies to end Israel’s impunity and enforce immediate, concrete consequences for military actions against international law.
In a separate joint statement published April 30, Malaysia joined Spain, Türkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, Pakistan and South Africa in condemning the interception. The statement declared that “[t]he Israeli attacks against the vessels and the unlawful detention of humanitarian activists in international waters constitute flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law”.
As of early May, ten of the 36 total Malaysian activists dispatched for the mission had been detained by the Israeli authorities near the Greek coast. They were distributed across six vessels: the Arkham III, Bianca BCN, Eros I, Esplai II, Freia and Marea.
Those on board, representing the Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC), had clearly stated that their mission mandate—“[to deliver] vital medical supplies and food to help stabilise a decimated healthcare system, and provide relief to a population facing genocide and starvation in Gaza”.
Relief came on May 1, when the delegations from SNCC were released at Crete island and transferred to Heraklion airport by the Greek authorities.
The interception of the GSF 2.0 and detention of humanitarian activists underscoreMalaysia’s hard stance against Israel and its call for accountability under international law.
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