A video grab from a livestream broadcast on 1 October 2025 by the Global Sumud Flotilla. Israel’s foreign ministry said Israel had halted vessels from the flotilla bound for Gaza. (Photo: Global Sumud Flotilla / AFP) The number of South Africans abducted by Israeli forces, as they sailed on an international flotilla to break Israel’s crippling siege on Gaza, has risen to six. Late on Thursday, 2 October 2025, it was confirmed that activist Carrie Shelver from the Eastern Cape and Johannesburg and currently living in Switzerland, was also aboard one of the Flotilla boats and taken into Israeli detention.
Diana Buttu, a Palestinian human rights lawyer, said Israel’s flotilla interception also amounted to a clear violation of international law.
“It’s important to keep in mind that all of these ships were in international waters,” she said.
Read more: Flotilla SOS — ‘if you are reading this, we have been illegally seized by the Israeli military’
A number of foreign governments have lashed out at Israel’s detention of the activists and called in Israeli diplomats to express their outrage and demand explanations.
More protests and strikes in international capitals, including South Africa, were expected on Friday.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/13392547.jpg "People shout 'general strike, let's block everything' as they take part in a demonstration in support of the Palestinian people and the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) in Rome, Italy, 01 October 2025. (Photo: EPA / ALESSANDRO DI MEO)")
Israel’s security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has eight convictions for racism and for supporting the terrorist organisation Kach, said that those arrested would be treated as “terrorists”.
Palestinian security prisoners’ conditions under Ben-Gvir’s ministry are on record for harsh and inhumane conditions.
The activists are reportedly being held in Ketziot prison in the Negev.
Israeli rights group Adala warned that the flotilla detainees were being denied due process.
Read more: Ramaphosa demands Israel free South African activists seized on Gaza flotilla
Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, was arrested by Israeli special forces after the boat he was on, part of the Gaza Sumud Flotilla (GSF) humanitarian fleet trying to break Israel’s crippling siege on Gaza, was intercepted by the Israeli navy overnight Wednesday/Thursday.
Four other South Africans, Zukiswa Wanner, Reaaz Moolla , Zaheera Soomar and Dr Fatima Hendricks were also abducted off their boats. DM