Three activists from Newfoundland are among those detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday, as they sailed toward Gaza in an attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade and deliver aid to the region.
Devoney Ellis, Sadie Mees and Nikita Stapleton were among about 100 people onboard the vessel Conscience — part of the larger Freedom Flotilla Coalition movement.
The vessel was boarded by Israeli forces around 3:30 a.m. NT when it was about 220 kilometres from the enclave.
“Right now their whereabouts remain unknown,” said Claire Genest, with local activist group Palestine Action YYT.
Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson confirmed the three women were detained in a statement on social media.
“Our government is working tirelessly for their safety, quick release, and access to consular services,” Thompson wrote.
“I share the concerns of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for their safety, and remain in active contact with [Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand] and Global Affairs Canada to ensure the well-being of all Canadians.”
WATCH | Fellow activists in St. John’s demand federal government take action:
Activists from St. John’s detained near Gaza, as supporters demand federal government intervention
Protesters gathered at federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson’s office in St. John’s, after three local activists were detained en route to Gaza. Devoney Ellis, Sadie Mees, and Nikita Stapleton were onboard a humanitarian ship when it was boarded by Israeli forces early this morning. Now, fellow activists are demanding that the federal government get involved.
“Israel had absolutely no right legally to intercept these vessels or abduct any of these civilians. It was a purely humanitarian, non-violent mission, and that was made explicitly clear.”
Israel’s foreign ministry reported in a post on X that everyone who was detained is safe and will soon be deported.
“Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing,” the post reads. “The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port. All the passengers are safe and in good health.”
More than 90 activists, medical professionals and journalists set sail onboard the vessel Conscience, headed for Gaza. (Freedom Flotilla Coalition)
Israel controls the flow of aid into Gaza, where evidence of “widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease” reported by the UN has prompted international condemnation and the declaration of famine conditions in August by the leading global authority on food insecurity.
With much of the enclave reduced to rubble in the two years since Israel launched its offensive, the majority of the population relies on humanitarian aid and food distribution that has been tightly controlled.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and seriously injured nearly 170,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The offensive followed the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed nearly 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Newfoundlanders undeterred by previous interception
Ellis, Mees and Stapleton spoke to CBC News on Oct. 2, as they prepared to set sail towards Gaza.
They were interviewed one day after Israeli forces intercepted approximately 40 aid boats heading for Gaza. Among the passengers was Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
Despite that, the trio said they were undeterred.
“That was definitely something that unfortunately — as wrong as it is — it was very much something that was anticipated, expected,” Stapleton told CBC News. “We’re definitely concerned by it but not swayed in what we’re doing in any way.”
The Conscience was carrying activists, doctors and journalists, along with medical supplies.
Genest said it’s important now that people begin calling for their safe release and putting pressure on their elected representatives.
“We need to be calling … our MPs in Newfoundland as well as the ministers in the Canadian government federally, including the prime minister and [Minister of Foreign Affairs] Anita Anand, to ensure that they come home as soon as possible.”
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