SEPANG — Tears of relief and tight embraces filled the arrival hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 on Sunday night as 28 Malaysian humanitarian activists safely returned to home soil following their detention by Israeli forces.
The volunteers, who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 mission intercepted while attempting to deliver crucial aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip, arrived at 9:30 PM on Emirates flight EK342. Traveling alongside them was Datuk Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby, the Director-General of the Sumud Nusantara Command Center (SNCC). Their repatriation journey spanned from Istanbul, Turkiye, with a brief transit in Dubai, before finally landing in Malaysia.
A Rousing Homecoming
A passionate crowd of more than 100 family members, NGO comrades, and pro-Palestinian supporters gathered at the terminal to accord the activists a hero’s welcome. Waving Palestinian flags, the crowd chanted “Free Free Palestine” and “Allahuakbar” as the volunteers emerged into the arrival hall.
On hand to officially receive the delegation were Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Sik Member of Parliament Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman.
One Volunteer Hospitalized in Turkiye
While 28 members of the Malaysian contingent have safely returned, one activist, Razman Mat Ali, remains hospitalized in Istanbul.
According to officials, Razman was unable to board the flight as he continues to undergo medical treatment for a traumatic pneumothorax (a punctured lung). The severe injury was reportedly sustained after he was physically assaulted and punched by Israeli soldiers during the high-seas interception of the aid vessel.
The SNCC had previously confirmed that all 50 global participants aboard the GSF 2.0 mission were intercepted and detained by the Israeli military during the humanitarian operation.
Roster of Repatriated Activists
The 28 returning humanitarian workers represent a broad cross-section of Malaysian civil society. The fully repatriated individuals are:
- Norazman Ishak
- Muhammad Hareez Adzrami
- Nor Liyana Farhan Daud
- Zainal Rashid Ahmad
- Ahmad Musa Al-Nuwayri Kamaruzaman
- Hazwan Hazim Dermawan
- Norhelmi Ab Ghani
- Mohd Hanafi Mohd Salim
- Mohd Shamsir Mohd Isa
- Mohd Redzal Amzah
- Muhammad Zaid Abdul Karim
- Al-Ahmad Shah Abdul Kadir
- Mohammad Farizzal Rostam
- Chin Shiau Weai
- Abdul Samad Selamat
- Mohammad Shazly Mohammad Shees
- Tengku Ahmad Taufik Tengku Noor Zahari
- Syed Aminul Syafiq Syed Iskandar
- Osman Zulkifli
- Jihan Alya Mohd Nordin
- Muhammad Amirul Afif Mohd Azhar
- S. Patmanathan
- Syakirin Muhamad Senin
- Muhammad Muhsin Zaidi
- Abdul Rahim Abdul Razak
- Eddy Noor Mat Amin
- Noor Thanisah Mohamad Tajudin
- Naufa Azhar
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