Two Canadians were detained by Israel after their boats were intercepted during a mission to challenge the 20-year blockade of Gaza, Canadian flotilla organizers reported on Thursday. The Global Sumud Flotilla identified the Canadians as Marie Tota and Umir Tiar. Tota, a nurse from Ontario, and Tiar, a student from Quebec City, were part of the detained activists. More than 180 activists were taken into custody in international waters as Israeli forces intercepted 22 boats in the flotilla, according to Chebbi, a spokesperson for Global Sumud Canada.
The interception occurred west of the Greek island of Crete, over 500 nautical miles away from Israel and Gaza, disrupting plans for Ehab Lotayef and five other Canadians to join the fleet of ships that departed from Barcelona earlier this month. Lotayef expressed concern over the interception, highlighting the unarmed nature of the activists aiming to deliver aid and raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that all detained individuals were unharmed and would be transported to Greece promptly.
According to a press release from Global Sumud Canada, Israeli forces disrupted communications, damaged several ships, and left activists stranded at sea on powerless boats during the operation. Despite the challenges faced, a Canadian woman stranded on a vandalized boat was rescued by Greenpeace and Spanish NGO Open Arms. Chebbi, the flotilla spokesperson, mentioned that communication was interrupted on her boat before drones surrounded them with bright lights. Lotayef urged the Canadian government to take action for the safe return of the detained Canadians.
Global Sumud Canada demanded immediate consular intervention for Tota and Tiar and called on the federal government to advocate for an end to the blockade and ensure the safe passage of the flotilla to Gaza. Global Affairs Canada did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment. A video released by the Global Sumud Flotilla showed one of the detained Canadians, identified as a medic, expressing concerns about the Israeli regime’s actions.
The Global Sumud Flotilla denounced Israel’s control extending to European waters and emphasized the need for global attention to Israel’s actions. The legality of Israel enforcing its naval blockade in international waters is under debate, with critics viewing it as collective punishment. Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned the seizure of boats as an act of piracy, stating that Israel violated humanitarian principles and international law.
In a previous incident, Israel detained over 400 activists, including prominent figures like Greta Thunberg and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, during a sailing of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Subsequently, six Canadians participating in the Freedom Flotilla were also detained. There have been past instances of confrontations between activist boats and Israeli forces, including the deadly raid on the Turkish boat Mavi Marmara in 2010. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists despite a ceasefire, with casualties reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry and concerns over limited aid reaching the affected population.
