Three activists hailing from Newfoundland are reportedly still under detention in Israel following the interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla they were part of a few days ago. Devoney Ellis, Sadie Mees, and Nikita Stapleton, residents of Newfoundland, were on board the Conscience, one of nine vessels in the flotilla destined for Gaza. Israeli authorities halted the flotilla on Wednesday and detained numerous activists, including the trio from Newfoundland and three other Canadians. The organizers of the flotilla condemned the detentions as unjust and against the law.
According to reports, the detained participants from the flotilla, as confirmed by Israel’s foreign ministry, are in good health and will be processed before being deported. While the Newfoundland activists are still in custody, CTV News mentioned that the three other Canadian individuals, including a Montreal doctor, have been released.
Vicki Axford, Sadie Mees’ aunt, expressed that the family has limited information about the situation. She stated that there have been no updates since yesterday and mentioned that Sadie seems to be coping well given the circumstances.
Global Affairs Canada informed CBC News via email that the Canadian activists from the flotilla are either in the process of being deported or have already been deported. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand urged all Canadians detained by Israel to accept the consular assistance offered by Ottawa for their return.
Recent history includes a Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in numerous casualties and hostages. This incident led to a conflict where Israel responded militarily, causing a significant loss of lives in the Gaza Strip, as reported by Palestinian sources. In current developments, a ceasefire agreement is expected to be implemented soon, leading to the release of all remaining hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
The article was sourced from CBC News.
