Global Affairs Canada has acknowledged the detention of two Canadian citizens in Israel following the interception of a flotilla en route to Gaza aimed at breaching Israel’s blockade of the area. Consular officials are offering assistance to those in need and are in contact with the local authorities. The department stated its inability to confirm the exact number of Canadian citizens involved in the initiative led by the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF).
The convoy, comprising over 40 civilian vessels with approximately 500 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists, including notable figures like Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, was carrying essential supplies such as medicine and food for Gaza.
The Israel Foreign Ministry reported on social media that 137 individuals from the Hamas-Sumud flotilla were deported to Turkey, hailing from various nations like the U.S., Morocco, and Switzerland. However, Canada was not specifically mentioned in the statement.
Israel declared that all participants in the flotilla would be promptly deported, emphasizing its policy of swiftly removing individuals engaged in such activities. The naval blockade on Gaza, initiated in 2007 when Hamas assumed control, has led to numerous attempts by activists to deliver aid by sea.
Despite the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, Canadian activists are still en route to Gaza via the Mediterranean Sea as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. They expressed concerns over the interception but remain determined to proceed with their journey.
The interception has triggered significant demonstrations in major European cities, with large crowds gathering in Rome, Paris, Barcelona, and London to show support for the flotilla. In Rome, demonstrators carrying banners and Palestinian flags marched near the Colosseum in a rally that organizers hoped would draw at least one million participants.
Italian unions staged a general strike on Friday in solidarity with the flotilla, leading to demonstrations across the country that reportedly attracted over two million participants, as estimated by organizers and the interior ministry.
