In a dramatic series of events that have captured international attention, several participants in a humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza—including prominent activists, journalists, and health workers—have been released from Israeli custody, while others remain detained under what supporters and human rights organizations describe as harrowing conditions. The saga, which unfolded over the course of early October 2025, has sparked protests, diplomatic interventions, and a renewed global conversation about the ongoing blockade of Gaza and the safety of those who challenge it.
On October 8, 2025, the Israeli military intercepted the flagship vessel of the Gaza aid flotilla, The Conscience, in international waters. According to a United Nations media release cited by Peace Brigades International-Canada (PBI-Canada), the ship was carrying 92 passengers, including journalists, health and care workers, and other human rights defenders from 10 different countries. The flotilla’s mission was to break Israel’s longstanding siege and blockade of Gaza—a goal that has drawn both fierce criticism and passionate support worldwide.
Among those detained was Mskwaasin Agnew, a Cree/Dene land defender from Canada. As reported by Radio Canada, Agnew has now been released from Israeli custody and is currently in Türkiye. Her release was welcomed by PBI-Canada, which observed an emergency rally outside the Prime Minister of Canada’s office in Ottawa on October 8, calling not only for Agnew’s freedom but also for the release of all remaining flotilla participants held by Israeli authorities.
Two other Canadians, activist Khurram Musti Khan and epidemiologist Nima Machouf, were also released after being detained. Machouf recounted the ordeal to Radio Canada: “We were attacked at sea, in international waters by the Israeli army. They landed with two black helicopters in the middle of the night, they arrested us and took us to the port of Ashdod.” She further described the experience in detention at Israel’s Ketziot prison as “psychological torture,” a claim that has fueled outrage among human rights advocates and the detainees’ supporters back home.
Despite these releases, the situation remains dire for others. David Heap, a spokesperson for the Canadian Boat to Gaza group, told PBI-Canada, “That leaves three Canadians still in prison [and] illegally detained in Israel, and in very difficult conditions.” The three—Devoney Ellis, Sadie Mees, and Nikita Stapleton—continue to be held as of October 10, 2025. A recent CBC News interview featured the trio, shedding light on their motivations, hopes, and the uncertainty they now face.
Meanwhile, the story has a personal resonance far beyond Canada. In Bangladesh, renowned photographer and activist Shahidul Alam returned home from Istanbul on October 11, after his own release from an Israeli prison. According to The Daily Star, Alam was arrested by Israeli forces on October 8 while participating in the Media Flotilla, a coalition of nine ships organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. This international effort brought together politicians, journalists, doctors, and human rights activists from a range of countries, all united in their determination to end what they describe as a siege and media blackout in Palestine.
Upon his arrival at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport, Alam was greeted by family, colleagues, and prominent cultural figures. He expressed deep gratitude for the help of the Bangladeshi and Turkish governments in securing his release. In a statement posted on Drik’s Facebook page, Alam said, “The love of the people of Bangladesh has given me the opportunity to come back. We must remember that the people of Gaza are still not free. The people of Gaza are still being attacked… They are still being persecuted. Our work is not yet complete.” He added, “Thousands more flotillas like ours are needed until Palestine is free,” emphasizing that the struggle for Palestinian liberation continues despite the personal relief of freedom.
The flotilla’s interception and the subsequent detentions have drawn sharp criticism from a variety of human rights organizations. According to London-based Global Witness, 2024 saw two separate international court rulings that found a case of genocide in Gaza to be plausible, ordering Israel to cease military actions aimed at destroying the population. The organization also highlighted the immense difficulties in documenting killings and disappearances of land and environmental defenders within such conflict zones, noting that reliable data for 2024 remains elusive.
Front Line Defenders, an international foundation based in Dublin, echoed these concerns in a May 2025 report. The group acknowledged the near impossibility of documenting human rights abuses in regions like Palestine, yet still managed to record the killing of 31 Palestinian human rights defenders in 2023 and 2024. Their report stated, “Those defending the right to health and the right to life as doctors, nurses, or ambulance workers, those exposing and documenting war crimes as journalists, and those providing humanitarian support as volunteers or employees of aid agencies were all specifically targeted by Israeli bombs or guns.”
The response to these developments has not been limited to the countries directly involved. On October 6, 2025, PBI-Guatemala observed a march in Guatemala City denouncing what participants called the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. These acts of solidarity have been mirrored by emergency rallies and public gatherings elsewhere, including the demonstration outside the Canadian Prime Minister’s office, as citizens and activists demand accountability and the safe return of those detained.
For many, the flotilla incident is emblematic of a broader pattern of risk faced by those who seek to challenge blockades and bring aid to Gaza. The targeting of journalists, health workers, and human rights defenders—whether through detention, violence, or intimidation—has become a recurring theme in reports from the region. As Machouf’s harrowing account of psychological torture suggests, the cost of such activism is often high and the path to justice uncertain.
Yet, the resolve among those who have participated in these missions appears undiminished. Shahidul Alam’s call for “thousands more flotillas” until Palestine is free, and the continued advocacy from groups like the Canadian Boat to Gaza, reflect a determination to keep the issue in the international spotlight. As the world watches, the fate of those still detained—and the broader struggle for Palestinian rights—remains a pressing concern for activists, policymakers, and ordinary citizens alike.
With the safe return of some and the continued detention of others, the story of the Gaza flotilla in October 2025 stands as a testament to both the risks and the resilience of those who challenge the status quo. Their experiences serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict, and the enduring hope for a more just and peaceful future.