Canadian Activist Details 'Illegal' Detention After Gaza Flotilla Intercepted

A Canadian Indigenous activist has returned home after being detained by Israeli naval forces during a humanitarian flotilla’s attempt to reach the blockaded Gaza Strip. Mskwaasin Agnew, a member of the Salt River First Nation, was intercepted along with other international activists and held for over a day before her release and return to Toronto.

Speaking to supporters at Toronto Pearson Airport, Agnew strongly condemned her detention. "Israel kidnapped me from international waters," she stated, asserting that her actions were lawful and that the Israeli operation violated international law. She emphasized that the flotilla was a civilian vessel carrying medical supplies and journalists, aiming to break the siege on Gaza.

Agnew used her platform to demand immediate action from the Canadian government, urging officials to sanction Israel and implement a complete arms embargo. She described the situation in Gaza as a "genocide" and a "manufactured famine," drawing parallels between the oppression of Palestinians and the historical struggles of Indigenous peoples in Canada. "There's absolutely similarities," she noted in response to a question from Anadolu.

The incident is part of a long-standing pattern where Israeli forces have intercepted ships attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Israel has maintained a strict land, air, and naval blockade on the Palestinian territory for nearly 18 years, which has been tightened in recent months. Agnew’s experience highlights the ongoing international efforts to challenge the blockade and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the region.