Gaza Sailing Mission Thwarted by Israeli Tactics and Strategies
ISTANBUL, April 26 (Bernama) -- The Israeli regime employs unreasonable justifications and subtle tactics as part of its strategy to prevent the successful delivery of humanitarian aid missions to Gaza.
Dr. Fauziah Hasan, a member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) steering committee, highlighted that continuous pressure is being exerted to thwart these sailing missions.
On Thursday, the FFC announced the postponement of the "Break The Siege: Mission To Gaza 2024" sailing mission, originally scheduled to depart on Friday (April 26), due to pressure from the Zionist regime to revoke the registration licence of a key ship in the mission, Akdeniz.
The FFC revealed that Israel is pressuring the Republic of Guinea Bissau to withdraw the registration or licence of the Akdeniz (Mediterranean) ship.
This has triggered a request for additional inspections, from the country where the ship is registered, thereby delaying the planned voyage, she said.
Reflecting on past experiences, Fauziah recalled facing documentation issues during a previous mission departing from Barcelona, Spain, due to interference from the Zionist regime.
She recounted that Israel's disruptive actions typically occur at the beginning of sailing missions to thwart humanitarian efforts.
"I remember when we left the port of Barcelona, we were directed to another port to obtain clearance to go to international waters.
"They asked for our original insurance issued from the United States (US) and did not accept those on the phone or copies," she said.
Meanwhile, Prof. Mohd Afandi Salleh, a Professor of International Relations at the Faculty of Law and International Relations at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), said that the new registration process for a ship in another country might take longer.
"For registering a new (ship), it does take time and I am not sure if FFC wants to buy or register in small countries like Panama or Liberia.
"Small countries may fear (Israel), and if you look at the UN (United Nations) supporting Israel today, they are countries whose names we do not recognise.
"This is one of the ways that Israel and its allies use to delay or cancel this humanitarian voyage," he said.
Currently, 18 Malaysian citizens including members of the international civil society are sailing on a flotilla to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip via sea route due to the dire humanitarian situation in the region.
They include doctors, humanitarian activists, and media practitioners.
Among the Malaysian media practitioners joining the flotilla are a writer and broadcaster from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Muhammad Hafizuddin Mohd Yusof, and a cameraman from Bernama TV, Mohammad Nulhakim Jailan.
Activists from 30 countries including Malaysia have gathered in Istanbul since April 18 for final preparations for the "Break the Siege: Freedom Flotilla Mission to Gaza 2024" mission."
-- BERNAMA
