Two Canadians in Gaza flotilla detained in Israel, says Global Affairs
Two Canadians are being detained in Israel after participating in the flotilla bound for Gaza last week, Global Affairs confirmed to National Post on Sunday.
Citing privacy laws, the agency did not identify the individuals, but said consular officials have contacted local authorities and “are providing consular assistance to those who request it.”
“Canada urges the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of participants and facilitate their timely access to Canadian consular services to support their swift return,” a spokesperson said in an email.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, made up of 42 vessels carrying humanitarian aid, was sailing for the Gaza coast in an effort to break through Israel’s blockade.
Volunteers on the voyage consisted of activists, lawyers and doctors.
According to the Canadian Boat to Gaza , which was sailing under the name Conscience, the Canadians on board included Mskwaasin Agnew and Khurram Musti Khan from Toronto, Devoney Ellis, Nikita Stapleton, Sadie Mees from St. John’s, and Montreal’s Nimâ Machouf, a former federal NDP candidate.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was also on board one of the vessels and is also being detained in Israel . In a news release, the flotilla group said an estimated 443 volunteers were taken from their vessels .
According to the Jewish News Syndicate , 137 were deported to Turkey over the weekend, but Israel’s Foreign Ministry reported that some have deliberately obstructed the legal process, “preferring instead to linger in Israel.”
A week before stopping it in the Mediterranean, Jerusalem said that the flotilla was organized by Hamas for its own purpose and said it would not be allowed to breach the “lawful naval blockade.”
“Israel urges the participants not to break the law and to accept Israel’s proposal for a peaceful transfer of any aid they might have,” the ministry said in a statement .
Last week, t he ministry published documents found in Gaza which allegedly indicate that the flotilla was linked to the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), a wing of the Hamas terrorist movement already labelled a terrorist organization in Israel since 2021.
Among its leadership, the ministry said, is a CEO for a Spanish front company that owns dozens of ships in the flotilla.
“Thus, these ships are secretly owned by Hamas.”
Global Affairs Canada had previously advised that Canadians should avoid travel to the region due to the Israel-Hamas war and that safety and protection cannot be guaranteed.
“The decision to travel is personal, and individuals are responsible for their own safety abroad,” the spokesperson wrote.
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Unpublished Newswire
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