Three activists hailing from Newfoundland are reportedly still in Israeli custody after the interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla at sea. Devoney Ellis, Sadie Mees, and Nikita Stapleton, residents of Newfoundland, were on board the Conscience, one of the nine vessels aiming to reach Gaza. Israeli forces halted the flotilla’s progress on Wednesday, detaining numerous activists, including the trio from Newfoundland and three other Canadians.
The organizers of the flotilla strongly condemned the detainment of the activists as “arbitrary and unlawful.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the detained participants from the flotilla were in good health and would undergo processing before being deported.
While the Newfoundland activists remain in custody, reports from CTV News indicate that the three other Canadians, including a Montreal doctor, have been released. Limited information is available to the family of Sadie Mees, according to her aunt, Vicki Axford, who expressed concern over the lack of updates on the situation.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed that the Canadian activists from the flotilla are in the process of being deported or have already been deported. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand urged the detained Canadians to accept consular assistance from Ottawa for their return home.
In a separate context, over two years ago, a Hamas-led attack on Israel resulted in significant casualties and hostages. This incident led to a military response from Israel, escalating into a conflict that claimed many lives in the Gaza Strip, based on Palestinian reports. However, a recent development indicates that a ceasefire agreement is imminent, which would involve the release of all remaining hostages and Palestinian prisoners.