All eyes are currently on Palestine. While many around the world are protesting and donating, hundreds of brave individuals are risking their lives to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians. The Global Sumud Flotilla is a coordinated, non-violent fleet of 40 vessels carrying 500 participants that has set sail from ports across the Mediterranean in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade and send aid to Gaza.
Malaysian actress Ardell Aryana and singer Zizi Kirana are among the volunteers on board and have been actively updating fans and the public back home on the voyage. Last night (2nd October), their ships were surrounded by the Israeli navy, who attempted to prevent them from reaching their destination.
During a live broadcast on her TikTok channel at around 2am, Ardell revealed that their radio communication had been hijacked by the Israeli military. “If you can hear their voices on the radio, one of them said, ‘See you in jail’. Do you see that ship over there? They’re here,” she said, before adding that she would be the last person to throw her phone into the sea, to give her viewers as much time as possible to stay updated on the situation.
Her livestream ended abruptly, causing concern among those who had been tuning in. The actress later managed to share an update via Instagram Story, informing followers that Israeli naval forces were blocking their internet access and other communications. “We’re trying to plug in offline. I’m just waiting for the chance to go live again to keep everyone updated. Please, pray for us and our friends,” she wrote.
Tensions escalated when it was reported that Ardell had been detained by Israeli forces. According to the New Straits Times, a distressed Ardell briefly went live, during which she could be heard praying and uttering the words “We were tortured” before the broadcast was abruptly cut off.
MalayMail reported that Zizi Kirana had also been detained by Israeli forces. Before losing contact, the singer penned an emotional message to her family back home. “Should anything happen to me, [Nurul] will take my place as the eldest. Kakak Ela, thank you for the love we’ve shared since childhood. We never argued, and the thought of being apart – even for a brief moment – would bring us to tears. Please look after our mother and siblings, shower them with boundless love. May Allah always protect you all. I love you, Kakak Ela”.
According to reports, about 13 Malaysians were intercepted and 8 were detained by the Israeli military. At the time of writing, there has been no update from either star. The livestream for the Sumud Flotilla can be viewed here:
