Global Affairs Canada has confirmed the detention of two Canadian citizens in Israel following the interception of a flotilla bound for Gaza to challenge Israel’s blockade of the area. The Canadian authorities are in contact with local officials and providing necessary support to those affected.
The exact number of Canadian participants in the initiative led by the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) remains unconfirmed. The flotilla, comprising over 40 civilian vessels carrying essential supplies like medicine and food to Gaza, included around 500 individuals such as parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists, among them Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
According to a social media post by the Israel Foreign Ministry, 137 individuals associated with the initiative were deported to Turkey, representing various nationalities, excluding any mention of Canadian citizens. The ministry emphasized the swift deportation of all participants involved in the flotilla.
Since Hamas assumed control of Gaza in 2007, Israel has enforced a naval blockade on the region, resulting in multiple attempts by activists to deliver aid by sea. Despite the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, Canadian activists are still en route to Gaza through the Mediterranean Sea as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, undeterred by the recent events.
The interception has triggered widespread protests in major European cities, with significant demonstrations in Rome, Paris, Barcelona, and London. In Rome, a large rally in support of the flotilla saw participants waving Palestinian flags and holding banners, marching past iconic landmarks like the Colosseum. Similarly, Italian unions organized a general strike in solidarity with the cause, drawing massive crowds across the country.
