ISTANBUL: World leaders are urged to unequivocally express their support in making the 'Breaking the Siege of Gaza Freedom Flotilla' mission a success.

According to Ann Wright, a member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) steering committee, the support and cooperation of world leaders are crucial in ensuring the immediate cessation of Israel's atrocities against the people in Gaza.

She emphasised that with the unified efforts of all world leaders, a concerted push could be made to achieve a lasting ceasefire, enabling the smooth planning of aid distribution to Gaza.

"I call upon leaders worldwide to come together and help in the effort to stop the genocide in Gaza, aiding those in need there, and supporting our mission.

"Efforts to achieve a ceasefire must be planned, and only through the unity of world leaders can this ongoing cruelty be halted.

"Any necessary measures should be taken, including imposing economic sanctions on the regime, isolating it (Israel) diplomatically, and doing whatever it takes to stop this oppression," she said.

She made these remarks to reporters after today's daily meeting.

Wright, who is also a citizen of the United States, strongly condemned the actions of her country's leadership, which continues to be a steadfast ally of Israel, and 'endorsing' all forms of brutality and oppression committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza.

"As a citizen of the United States, I consider what our country's leadership is doing to be extremely severe.

"They continue to collude in mass murder because on several occasions in the past, they (the US) vetoed all United Nations Security Council decisions to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.

"Moreover, my country also provides funds to Israel to purchase weapons to carry out their mission in Gaza.

"Therefore, there is no other way but to urge all leaders from around the world to take action to stop all this oppression," she added.

Among other things, Wright also expressed her disappointment with US President Joe Biden, who continues to allow this violence and oppression to occur consistently.

"We know the US Presidential Election will take place in November this year.

"Many among the US population do not support Biden's policies regarding the Gaza issue, and this will undoubtedly cause him to lose more votes, and I will also never vote for Biden.

"I don't believe that he continues to collude and allow all forms of crime to persist in Gaza, and surely Israel faces a greater risk if Biden loses in the election because of this issue," she said.

Last March, Joe Biden, 81, and his rival, former President Donald Trump, received sufficient nominations from their party representatives to be elected as candidates for the 2024 US Presidential Election.

At present, Malaysians are actively participating alongside the global civilian community in voyages aboard flotillas to provide humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip by sea, responding to the urgent humanitarian crisis in the region.

They consist of doctors, humanitarian activists, and media practitioners.

Among the Malaysian media practitioners joining the flotilla are writer and broadcast journalist from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Muhammad Hafizuddin Mohd Yusof and Bernama TV cameraman Mohammad Nulhakim Jailan.

Activists from 30 countries including Malaysia have been gathering in Istanbul since April 18 for final preparations for the "Break the Siege: Freedom Flotilla Mission to Gaza 2024" mission.

-- BERNAMA