Malaysia: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday urged for immediate, unhindered access for humanitarian aid to Gaza, state news agency Bernama reported. Speaking on behalf of the prime minister, senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah stated that Anwar is closely monitoring the progress of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which includes 34 Malaysian activists, as they approach the Gaza Strip.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Prime Minister affirms that the government, along with all Malaysians, stands firmly in support of this humanitarian mission, in line with the principles of solidarity and justice. Tunku Nashrul Abaidah mentioned during a press briefing that any hindrance to the flotilla would only worsen the suffering of Gaza's population. The government is keeping a close watch on the safety of the Malaysian humanitarian activists involved in the mission.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, an international initiative aimed at reaching the Gaza Strip to lift the Israeli siege and deliver humanitarian aid, is about 150 nautical miles away from the enclave and approaching a high-risk zone, according to a statement from the organization on Tuesday. Roos Ykema, an activist from the Netherlands, highlighted in a video statement that they are nearing the 150 nautical mile zone, beyond which Israel is known to intercept boats.

The flotilla, consisting of about 50 ships with over 500 activists onboard, set sail earlier this month to break Israel's blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies, to the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023, with the ongoing bombardment rendering the enclave uninhabitable and leading to a famine.