In this compelling exchange, Global Sumud Flotilla activist Iylia Balqis responds to critics who question the mission’s purpose, especially the presence of women onboard.
She welcomes criticism, saying it is proof that awareness is spreading and insists that those who object are a tiny minority compared to the overwhelming support from Malaysians.
She emphasises that, even though the flotilla did not make it into Gaza and aid remains blocked, their mission was far from a failure.
Her message is clear: Real advocacy is not about arrival - it’s about awakening.
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00:00If there is no women's baby killed, I think, okay, we don't have to send women.
00:05But now, we have baby and women killed.
00:07And then we have those who will kill their son and daughter will kill and their husband.
00:12We need someone to comfort the woman.
00:14And then, I don't think we have to say like if woman needed or is woman not needed.
00:20I think the thing is like, where were you when we needed you?
00:26Because you were talking and saying stuff, but now we need your support.
00:31We don't need like you to question.
00:33Criticism is the very best thing to spread the awareness.
00:36Because when people criticize, that means our job is not done yet.
00:41We have, like people are having misconception because we are portraying, not portraying very well.
00:46So, I think that is the only way that we can advocate people.
00:49And then, we have supported from Malaysia.
00:51Like the criticism is just like various small groups.
00:54And then, we shouldn't be focusing on this small group because we have a larger group who are supporting us.
01:00So, and then, if they say it's popular for popularity and stuff, the people who have been on board has already popular before they went on board.
01:08We have Zikirana.
01:09We know she is a very, she's a very famous singer.
01:13And then, we have Arda.
01:14She's a very famous actor.
01:16And then, we have P.U. Rahmat.
01:17She's a very, he's a very famous preacher.
01:19So, they don't need to be on the board to be famous.
01:22Okay, so, I think that is just a funny, funny statement just to let us down.
01:29But then, they have been in this arena, in this field for such a long time.
01:34More than five years.
01:35So, they have been, been criticized by the people along the way.
01:39So, you cannot criticize them because they don't even care about the critic.
01:42But then, I think it's our job to let people know what we are doing is a success, even though we didn't go enter Gaza, even though the humanitarian aid is stuck in Israel.
01:54But then, we know that the silence has already worked.
01:57People are talking about Palestinian.
01:59The ceasefire is happening now.
02:01We don't know when the Palestine will be free.
02:03But the effort shows, effort, the result shows that now people are talking more and more about Palestine.
02:10All the advocacy is happening because of the voices from the global smoke flotilla activists.
02:16And people saying like, women shouldn't be there, shouldn't be here.
02:19We know that we need the emotional touch from the women.
02:23And where we are heading to Gaza is the people who are, who are being the, the, the target are actually women and babies.
02:34So, if there is no women's baby kill, I think, I think, okay, we don't have to send women.
02:40But now, we have baby and women killed.
02:42And then, we have those who will kill their son and daughter will kill and their husband.
02:47We need someone to comfort them, the woman.
02:48And then, I don't think we have to see like if woman needed or is woman not needed.
02:55I think the thing is like, where were you when we needed you?
03:01Because you were talking, you were talking and saying stuff.
03:05But now, we need your support.
03:06We don't need like you to question.
03:08And funny thing is, they question about the women involvement when we are on our fifth day sailing.
03:15We are already on a boat.
03:17Whatever you were saying, we, you cannot do anything because we are only in a boat.
03:22And then, the, the, and then we went on the boat, on the sailing with the permission of our mother and father.
03:29And also our, some of the husband, their husband, all were giving, all were, all were saying okay with it.
03:37So, I think it's okay.
03:39If the, if our family is okay with it, that should be done.
03:42You don't have to come and to be our second family that's against the decision.
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