Kuala Lumpur: A journalist and a cameraperson of NDTV affiliate channel in Kuala Lumpur, the Astro Awani, were on board the ship carrying aid to people of Gaza that was stormed by Israeli commandos on Monday.
Twenty six -year-old reporter-anchor Ashwad Ismail and 46-year-old cameraman Samsul-kamal Abdul Latip, left Kuala Lumpur for Istanbul on May 23. After the horrific incident, there has been no information about them. The channel said it was awaiting news from the mission organisers and authorities.
(Read: Statement from Astro Awani)The violent takeover dealt yet another blow to Israel's international image, already tarnished by war crimes accusations in Gaza and its three-year-old blockade of the impoverished Palestinian territory.
There has been widespread international condemnation of Israel after Israeli commandos stormed ships which were carrying aid to the Gaza strip. Hundreds of people who were on a humanitarian mission were on board. According to the last reports, 9 people were killed and many injured.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "shocked" by the navy assault.
Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled a much-anticipated meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday in a sign of just how gravely Israel viewed the international uproar. In Canada, Netanyahu announced he was rushing home.
The European Union has demanded a "full inquiry" from Israel. Several European countries have summoned their Israeli ambassadors and slammed the action.
The Jewish state's chief regional partner Turkey responded with fury, scrapping plans for joint war games with Israel and recalling its ambassador, as it warned the "flagrant breach of international law" would have "irreparable consequences" for bilateral ties.
Israel's closest ally Washington said it "deeply regrets the loss of life" and was "working to understand" what caused the "tragedy."
India too condemned the attacks. "India deplores the tragic loss of life and there can be no justification for such indiscriminate use of force. Lasting peace and security in the region can be achieved only through peaceful dialogue and not through use of force," said a Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson on Monday.