As Luiza Ravalli, a primary care nurse from the Greater Toronto Area, approached her ship in an unmarked speedboat, she heard a chilling warning from a loudspeaker: "Turn back or you'll be boarded." Ravalli and her crew were transporting essential supplies, such as diapers, menstrual care products, and bottled water, as part of a flotilla aiming to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. Despite the command, they chose to maintain their course.
Shortly after, Ravalli recounted hearing three gunshots directed at them, followed by another shot that struck the boat's metal hull near her and a fellow crewmate. "We instinctively put our heads down. But when I looked up slightly, I saw sniper dots directly above us," she said during an interview after returning to Canada.
Ravalli, along with two other Canadians involved in the flotilla, described a harrowing night navigating through the dark Mediterranean waters, culminating in a violent interception by Israeli forces off Crete. Following the interception, two of the activists were detained and taken aboard an Israeli vessel, where they reported assaults by soldiers and inhumane conditions, such as sleeping on a flooded floor. They witnessed further violence inflicted upon other detainees.
Prior to this incident, Raballi and her crewmates had communicated with The Canadian Press about the ongoing developments, just as another interception occurred off Cyprus, leading to the detention of 11 additional Canadians. Global Sumud Canada, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla movement, reported that only one Canadian remained active in the mission after the Israeli intervention. Initially, there were 12 Canadians among roughly 500 activists on the flotilla, which launched from Turkey.
The group announced on Tuesday that they had lost contact with the detained Canadians and could not provide an update on their status. Global Affairs Canada reported that they were monitoring the situation, confirming awareness of Canadian participation in both the Global Sumud Flotilla and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition while acknowledging Israeli interceptions aimed at enforcing the blockade.
For Ravalli, the events of April 29 culminated in Israeli Defense Forces destroying essential components of their ship, leaving the activists stranded at sea without communication or navigation capabilities. "Our mayday calls went nowhere," she lamented, fearing for their lives. They drifted for approximately 12 hours, caught in a brewing storm, before being rescued by the Spanish NGO Open Arms.
Meanwhile, activists Marie Tota and Umir Tiar faced their own trials after their boats were boarded by Israeli forces. According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, around 180 activists were detained in international waters as the Israeli military intercepted 22 boats. Most detainees were released shortly after, except for two individuals from Brazil and Spain, who alleged torture while in custody—a claim that Israel has denied.
Tiar, a student from Quebec, was released after 40 hours and chose to join another vessel. However, she was detained again in a subsequent interception, as reported by Global Sumud Canada. Both women recounted their experiences aboard an Israeli ship where armed soldiers monitored them, and conditions were deplorable, with many detainees left exposed to the cold without adequate clothing.
Tota, an emergency medicine nurse, noted that during their detention, there was no sufficient food or water, prompting some activists to go on hunger strikes. Despite her medical background, she felt helpless due to the lack of supplies to treat the injured. Eventually, after approximately 40 hours, they were released in Crete and handed over to Greek authorities.
Upon arrival, Tota and Tiar immediately sought medical attention, where they discovered that multiple detainees required significant treatment for injuries sustained during their detention. Tota reported injuries including broken ribs, visible contusions, and even a gunshot wound from a rubber bullet. She criticized Canada's response to the situation in Gaza, expressing disappointment in the government's failure to uphold human rights standards.
Global Affairs Canada reiterated its stance, emphasizing the need for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza to address the dire situation after Israel's military offensive post the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, which reportedly left over 72,700 Palestinians dead. The blockade has intensified since the attacks, which resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
