While government officials wouldn\u2019t confirm the names of those in custody, in a news release Global Sumud Canada identified them as Michael France, Omar Shaban, Safa Chebbi, Sebastian Tow, Ko Tinmaung, Umir Tiar, Shahid Mahmood, Adam Joshua Norrad Bouzide, Olivier Huard, Ehab Lotayef, Mary Grace Mathisen and Daniela-Maria Bonamico.<\/p>\n
The Global Sumud Flotilla group says most of the Canadian participants had previously agreed to stage a hunger strike if detained by Israeli forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have chosen the hunger strike as a form of political expression not to elicit sympathy for our own plight, but to remind the world that thousands of Palestinians have been enduring confinement, arbitrary detention and prison violence for decades in almost total silence,\u201d read a statement from Safa Chebbi, the organization\u2019s Canadian spokesperson.<\/p>\n
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Six Canadians on Gaza-bound flotillas reportedly detained All twelve Canadian activists who attempted to challenge the naval blockade of Gaza have been detained by Israeli forces, according to the activist group organizing the effort. <\/p>\n
Flotilla organizers say their goal was to deliver aid to the Palestinian people and break what they call an illegal siege on the territory.<\/p>\n
The organization has led several trips of this kind. Greta Thunberg and several other prominent activists joined a convoy of ships that embarked last October, dozens of which were intercepted.<\/p>\n
Israel has maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007.<\/p>\n
The Israeli Foreign Ministry posted video of what it said depicts flotilla activists being transferred onto Israel\u2019s vessels. The ministry also said its searches of the vessels on Monday had turned up no humanitarian aide.<\/p>\n
The Canadian government confirms consular officials in the region are monitoring the situation and standing ready to provide assistance to any Canadian citizen who requests it.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations<\/a>, arresting authorities are required to inform Canadian citizens of their right to contact a consular representative,\u201d said Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Thida Ith in a statement to CTV News. \u201cConsular assistance is available to all Canadian citizens in need.\u201d<\/p>\n Global Affairs Canada says it continues to track developments related to the ongoing flotilla activities adding GAC, \u201cand is aware that Israeli security forces continue to intercept attempts to breach the naval blockade\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe maintain Canada\u2019s position that UN-co-ordinated humanitarian assistance into and throughout Gaza must be immediately scaled up to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation,\u201d said Ith.<\/p>\n The Canadians were part of a fleet of 50 vessels and 430 activists from 40 different countries, bound for Gaza which were intercepted by Israeli forces. The Global Sumud Flotilla said their mission is to deliver humanitarian aid to the war-torn zone.<\/p>\n In interview via video conference with CTV News on Monday<\/a> before being detained, Huard had been hopeful the vessel he was on could traverse the Mediterranean Sea and get to the Gazan shoreline.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can change course, we can have different strategy. We\u2019re not as fast as the military, but we\u2019re also really agile,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it\u2019s going to be a really long night, because if we\u2019re not intercepted before sunset, we have to stay really aware all night long.\u201d<\/p>\n The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the remaining boats in the flotilla have been intercepted<\/a> as they attempted to challenge the naval blockade.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/X3H2QZFTZYOKUWTKPBP6NE7BAA.jpg\")
This grab from CCTV footage shows activists aboard a flotilla boat with their hands in the air as a boat approaches one of more than 50 vessels that departed from the port of Marmaris, Turkey, last week in what organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla… This grab from CCTV footage shows activists aboard a flotilla boat with their hands in the air as a boat approaches one of more than 50 vessels that departed from the port of Marmaris, Turkiye, last week in what organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla described as the final leg of their planned journey to Gaza’s shores, in international waters Monday, May 18, 2026. (Global Sumud Flotilla via AP) <\/p>\n