Malaysian doctor, others in humanitarian Gaza mission freed by Israel
Malaysia's Dr Fauziah Mohd Hasan and other members of the Women's Boat to Gaza mission were freed by Israeli forces Thursday night. Pic via YouTube.
7th October 2016OFFICIALS have confirmed the safe release of Malaysian volunteer to Gaza Dr Fauziah Mohd Hasan, along with other crew members of the Women’s Boat to Gaza (WBG) mission.
A New Straits Times report quoting Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said Dr Fauziah, who had joined the mission as its physician, will be returning home from Tel Aviv, Israel, via Bangkok in Thailand.
Latest news: The 13 detained activists to be deported soon -wbg.freedomflotilla.org/news/zaytouna-… #WomensBoatToGaza
On Wednesday, the boat carrying 13 pro-Palestine female volunteers from the mission were detained by the Israeli Defence Forces and taken to the port of Ashdod in Israel.
According to a statement by the Israeli military, naval forces stopped the boat first in international waters and urged it to change course.
When it refused, the navy said it searched the vessel.
The boat is sponsored by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a group of pro-Palestinian groups based mostly in Europe.
The Dutch-flagged boat, named Zaytouna-Olive, was carrying activists from different countries headed by Mairead Maguire, an Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
According to another NST report today, the coalition confirmed at 10.30pm Thursday night that two members of the mission were released.
At 8am Friday morning, a spokesman for the Malaysian Care (MyCare) said all remaining 11 delegates would be released and that their flights were being arranged.
Consular sources confirm during tonight the 11 Flotilla activists who are still detained will be deported to their countries#SOSWomentoGaza
“Flights back to the respective countries of the remaining 11 delegates, including Dr Fauziah Mohd Hasan, are being arranged,” the group said.
