Six South African activists who were part of an aid flotilla attempting to reach Gaza say they were subjected to harsh treatment by Israeli authorities after being detained. The activists were among roughly 450 individuals arrested when the Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted, and they claim they were singled out because of their nationality. According to them, Israeli guards focused on their South African passports and treated them more severely than other detainees.
The activists attribute this disparity to South Africa’s involvement in a contentious case against Israel at the United Nations’ top court, where the country has accused Israel of genocide in Gaza since 2023. Mandla Mandela, a former lawmaker and grandson of anti‑apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, said the South African activists were “harshly dealt with” because South Africa has taken a strong stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza. He emphasized that their treatment was a direct result of South Africa’s decision to hold Israel accountable through international courts.
During a press conference at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport, activists Fatima Hendricks and Zaheera Soomar described their experiences, alleging that they were forcibly stripped of their hijabs and subjected to invasive searches, including being forced to undress in front of Israeli soldiers. They said this treatment was not applied to other Muslim female activists, suggesting that their nationality played a role in the alleged mistreatment.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry denied any claims of mistreatment, stating that all activists were offered the opportunity to be deported voluntarily without detention. The interception of the aid flotilla and the subsequent detention of activists have sparked global rallies condemning Israel’s actions, highlighting ongoing tensions between Israel and South Africa in the context of the Gaza conflict and the international community’s response. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the incident will affect relations between the two countries and the broader effort to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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