Malaysia to take Israel to ICJ Israel over 'torture' of Gaza flotilla activists, says official
Malaysia is preparing to take legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice over the reported abuse of Gaza-bound aid flotilla activists after they were seized from international waters last week, an official said on Monday .
According to Amirudin Shari, the chief minister of the state of Selangor, the Malaysian government plans to file a case once lawyers complete the collection of evidence and testimonies.
The move comes amid mounting international criticism of Israeli forces over allegations of torture, sexual violence and abuse against around 430 Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) activists, including Malaysian citizens, who were later deported to their respective countries.
Speaking at an event at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to welcome returning activists on Monday, Amirudin Shari said the government would continue diplomatic efforts to demand Gaza's full freedom alongside legal action.
“We will not remain silent, we will not stop," he said, adding that participants in the aid mission to Gaza were subjected to kidnapping and torture.
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“We will bring this to the international court, we will continue diplomatic pressure, and we will also travel across Malaysia,” he added.
Amirudin said Malaysia remained committed to supporting the Palestinian cause and planned to host international conferences in support of Palestine.
He also said preparations were already under way for further aid initiatives.
“I saw quite a lot of injuries to the head, to the ribs, to the legs, to the genital areas as well."
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Activists that were sailing with the Global Sumud Flotilla have arrived in the UK from Istanbul after being detained by Israel. pic.twitter.com/jRyBGPhtOP
Malaysia’s planned legal action is the latest in a series of international responses condemning Israel’s seizure of the flotilla in international waters, an act many legal experts, rights groups and governments have described as unlawful.
The flotilla had been attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, where Israel has maintained a devastating military assault and blockade since 2023, severely restricting the entry of food, water, medicine and electricity.
Videos posted online last week showed Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir overseeing the abuse of activists, sparking global outrage.
In the footage, Ben Gvir is seen waving an Israeli flag and taunting handcuffed activists as Israeli prison officers forced them to kneel on the ground.
According to testimonies from participants, detainees said they were shot with rubber bullets upon arrival, beaten, bound, tasered, sexually assaulted and injected with unknown sedatives while in Israeli custody.
Adalah, the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, said detainees had also been subjected to electric shocks as well as physical and psychological abuse.
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