2 Canadians detained in Israel after forces intercept Gaza flotilla: Global Affairs Canada
Benjamin Lopez Steven | CBC News | Posted: October 4, 2025 7:37 PM | Last Updated: 12 hours ago
The flotilla, composed of more than 40 civilian vessels, was carrying aid to Gaza
Global Affairs Canada says it's aware of two Canadian citizens who have been detained in Israel after forces intercepted a flotilla headed to Gaza in an attempt to break Israel's blockade of the enclave.
In a statement to Radio-Canada, Global Affairs Canada said consular officials are in contact with local authorities and providing assistance to those who request it.
The department also said it is unable to confirm the total number of Canadian citizens participating in the initiative, organized by the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF).
The flotilla was transporting medicine and food to Gaza and consisted of more than 40 civilian vessels with about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg.
On Saturday morning, the Israel Foreign Ministry said in a social media post that "137 more provocateurs of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla were deported today to Turkey."
They were citizens of of several countries, including the U.S., Morocco and Switzerland — but the post did not mention Canada.
The ministry also said "all participants in this publicity stunt will be deported as swiftly as possible."
Israel has imposed a naval blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the coastal enclave in 2007, and there have been several previous attempts by activists to deliver aid by sea.
In a statement posted to its website on Sunday, GSF said activists "were kidnapped and brought to Israel against their will, along with their ships, which were unlawfully sized and brought to Israel."
"From the moment of interception, all activists were held incommunicado, with communication systems having been jammed, some of them subjected to degrading treatment, and water cannons. In short, the activists' humanitarian mission was violently crushed," GSF added.
Although the Global Sumud Flotilla has been intercepted, some Canadians are still making their way to Gaza through the Mediterranean Sea as part of a different group called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
They told CBC News they're concerned about Israel's interception but are continuing their travel anyway.
The interception has sparked major protests in large European cities.
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday to rally in support of the flotilla. People holding banners and Palestinian flags filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least one million people.
The rally coincided with similar protests in Paris, Barcelona and London.
On Friday, Italian unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than two million, organizers said. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.