South African activists from Gaza flotilla to be repatriated from Israel, return home on Tuesday
The South Africans who were detained in Israel after participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla are set to be released and repatriated on Tuesday.
Image: AFP
The South Africans who were detained in Israel after participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla are set to be released and repatriated on Tuesday.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) received formal notification from Israeli authorities regarding the status of the detained South Africans.
Six South Africans were among dozens of activists who were detained when Israel naval forces intercepted boats in the flotilla last week. They are: Nkosi Zwelivelile 'Mandla' Mandela, Nelson Mandela's grandson, Zukiswa Wanner, Carrie Shelver, Dr Fatima Hendricks, Zaheera Soomar and Reaz Moola.
According to AFP, the 45-vessel flotilla had been aiming to break an Israeli blockade to deliver aid to Gaza, where the United Nations says famine has taken hold after two years of devastating conflict.
Dirco spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said the government has received confirmation of the imminent release of the individuals.
“We have received confirmation that the individuals in question are scheduled to be released from detention and will be repatriated, departing via Jordan tomorrow morning,” he said.
Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Ronald Lamola, extended his gratitude to all involved in the process.
“We extend our gratitude to all relevant parties, both domestically and internationally, for their cooperation and coordination in ensuring the return of the South African citizens,” he said.
Nosekeni Rabia Mandela, wife of activist and grandson of Nelson Mandela, Mandla Mandela, said:“It has indeed been a turbulent time. He was away for three weeks travelling to Tunisia and then setting sail before they were abducted,” she said.
She acknowledged the risks involved in the mission: “We knew from the outset that it was a perilous initiative, and we were not oblivious to the possibility of the current situation unfolding as it has. The children are aware, and continuously ask 'when is daddy coming home?' I try to comfort them and console them in an age-appropriate manner, so they are not too overwhelmed.”
She called on governments and international organisations to take stronger action.
“My message to the South African government and international human rights organisations is how can we allow Israel to continue to act with impunity and ignore international law without consequences?
“I believe it's time to expel Israel from the UN. We must do more to put an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
Activists from other countries who were deported at the weekend spoke to AFP after arriving in Istanbul, Turkiye.
“We were intercepted by a huge number of military vessels,” Paolo Romano, a regional councillor from Lombardy in Italy, told AFP at Istanbul airport.
“They put us on our knees, facing down. And if we moved, they hit us. They were laughing at us, insulting us and hitting us,” he said.
Iylia Balqis, a 28-year-old activist from Malaysia, said Israel's interception of the boats was “the worst experience”.
“We were handcuffed (with hands behind our backs), we couldn't walk, some of us were made to lie face down on the ground, and then we were denied water, and some of us were denied medicine,” she said.