GSF 2.0 humanitarian mission slated for mid-year launch

 

Mapim chief executive officer Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby delivers his speech at GSF 2.0 Roundtable Discussion: Breaking The Siege today - BERNAMA PIC

BANGI: The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) steering committee, together with the Sumud Nusantara movement, plans to launch its second humanitarian mission mid-year, during the spring season.

Sumud Nusantara Control Centre (SNCC) director-general Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby said the mission is being mobilised in response to Israel's deliberate efforts to delay and block the entry of aid, reflecting a worsening of the ongoing conflict.

"If this conflict continues, international pressure must be mobilised as a last resort to ensure the world does not continue turning away from what is happening in Gaza," he said.

Sani Araby, who is also the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (Mapim) chief executive officer said this when met after the GSF 2.0 Roundtable Discussion: Breaking The Siege at Wisma Mapim today.

Three GSF steering committee members, Thiago Avila, Kleoniki Alexopoulou, and Saif Abukesyek, were panelists at the round table discussion, while Cinta Gaza Malaysia CEO Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri Kamaruzaman served as the moderator.

Sani Araby, however, did not reveal the exact launch date for security reasons, and expressed hope that participation would exceed that of the previous mission, which involved representatives from 45 countries.

For this mission, he said the focus would be on raising global public awareness to push governments to translate calls for action into diplomatic policy.

"This time, one of the most important strategies is to mobilise groups from the public, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), governments, and world leaders so that it is clear our mission is not a casual initiative, but an action rejecting the (Zionist) regime's inhumane acts," he said.

He also expects the conflict to possibly intensify over the next few months, around spring or mid-year, based on current developments on the ground.

That expectation, he added, aligns with concerns that the situation may worsen if there are no serious efforts to stop the violence and ensure humanitarian aid can be delivered without obstruction.

During GSF's mission in September last year, hundreds of international activists, including 34 Malaysian volunteers, sailed towards Gaza, bringing along food and medicine, in an effort to break Israel's naval blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Gazans.

However, on Oct 1, all 41 vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces, and the activists were detained at Ketziot Prison in Israel before they were deported to their respective countries.

– Bernama