KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — Twenty-three Malaysians detained by Israeli forces during the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission are expected to be repatriated from Ashdod within 48 hours, bringing relief to their families and fellow Malaysians.

The positive development comes after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sought assistance from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to repatriate the Malaysians on a special flight.

Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) director-general Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby said the group of volunteers is scheduled to return either via Ankara or Istanbul as part of the joint efforts by Turkiye and Malaysia.

“We expect the repatriation from Ashdod to take place within the next 48 hours,” he told a press conference here last nght.

He added that Malaysia and Turkiye are expected to be among the first countries to bring home their citizens.

Earlier, Anwar contacted Erdogan to arrange for the Malaysians to travel alongside Turkish nationals, following positive developments from diplomatic discussions with several key world leaders, including Erdogan, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Anwar also described Israel’s accusation labelling the GSF activists as terrorists as insolent.

He said the GSF’s voyage to Gaza was a humanitarian mission aimed at helping the Palestinian people oppressed by the Zionist regime, which in reality is the true terrorist.

Meanwhile, thousands of participants in the Free Sumud Flotilla solidarity rally marched from the Tabung Haji building to the US Embassy after Friday prayers, carrying flags and banners calling for an end to Israel’s blockade.

The wave of support spread nationwide through special prayers and Qunut Nazilah recitations at mosques in Pahang, Sabah, Perak and Melaka.

Those detained are singer Heliza Helmi and her sister, Nur Hazwani Afiqah, who were aboard the Hio; Nurfarahin Romli and Danish Nazran Murad (Grande Blu); singer Zizi Kirana (Huga); Musa Nuwayri, Iylia Balqis and Sul Aidil (Alma); Haikal Abdullah, Muaz Zainal, Zulfadhli Khiduddin and Rusydi Ramli (Sirius).

Razali Awang (Inana); influencer Nurul Hidayah Mohd Amin, also known as Ardell Aryana (Mikeno); PU Rahmat, Norhelmi Ab Ghani, Mohd Asmawi Mukhtar and Norazman Ishak (Estrella); Zainal Rashid and Ustaz Muhammad (Fair Lady); as well as Muhammad Hareez Adzrami (also known as Haroqs), Muhd Haikal Luqman Zulkefli and Taufiq Mohd Razif (Free Willy).

The GSF, comprising more than 500 activists from 45 countries, sailed towards Gaza as a symbol of solidarity and an effort to break the Israeli blockade. — Bernama