Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has issued a strong condemnation of Israel's treatment of Canadian activists who were part of a Gaza-bound flotilla intercepted earlier this week. Anand described the mistreatment as an "appalling abuse" and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
The flotilla, organized by Global Sumud Canada, aimed to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian assistance. Twelve Canadian citizens were among the hundreds of participants detained by Israeli forces. According to Global Sumud Canada, the detained activists were deported to Turkey. Anand stated that Canadian officials are providing urgent medical care to the activists in Turkey to facilitate their return home.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has also weighed in, calling Israel's actions "abominable" and "unacceptable". This incident marks a further hardening of Canada's stance towards Israel, particularly after Carney's announcement last September that Canada would recognize Palestinian statehood. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has dismissed the flotilla as a "PR stunt" designed to aid Hamas.
The situation has led to increased diplomatic tension, with Anand directing officials to summon Israel's ambassador to Canada. Video footage appearing to show the mistreatment of the activists, including images of them kneeling with their hands zip-tied, has sparked outrage in Canada. The activists themselves have described being beaten and subjected to "systematically dehumanizing" treatment.
