Amirudin alleges sabotage after boat for Gaza aid mission sinks before departure

“KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari today claimed that a boat he was supposed to use to join the final leg of a humanitarian mission to Gaza was sabotaged and sunk before departure. Amirudin, who is also leading the Malaysian Emergency Aid Mission to Gaza, said the vessel was believed to have been deliberately targeted after it was identified by parties linked to the Israeli regime. “I was actually supposed to join the last mile of the journey. However, they managed to identify the boat I was going to use, and it was sunk,” he told reporters today. “We believe this was sabotage, before I had the chance to board it or before the delegation accompanying me could even depart.” Amirudin said the alleged sabotage occurred amid growing international participation in humanitarian flotilla efforts to deliver aid and show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. He also claimed there had been two separate acts of sabotage involving the mission — one in Greek waters and another near Turkey. The remarks came a day after detained activists linked to a Gaza-bound flotilla were released by Israeli authorities, with 29 Malaysians expected to return home by the end of the week. “Alhamdulillah, God willing, they are expected to return to Malaysia by the end of this week,” Amirudin said. He added that officers from the Malaysian Islamic Organisations Consultative Council and members of the delegation had already travelled to receive the group, although he himself was unable to join them and may instead welcome them at the airport. Amirudin also alleged that the activists had suffered physical pressure and abuse while in detention after being intercepted in international waters. “They were detained in international waters, which I regard as an act of abduction carried out by the regime,” he said. Despite the incident, Amirudin said the mission would continue efforts to draw global attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “We will continue to ensure this message reaches the world. We want to break the silence surrounding the people of Gaza,” he said. He also said he was awaiting a final report regarding 20 containers of humanitarian aid released last month, which are expected to reach Gaza soon.

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