*By Wardāh Wilkinson

Pretoria – South Africa has condemned what it described as the “illegal abduction” of its nationals by Israeli forces in international waters and demanded their immediate release after a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla was intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Southern African country’s foreign ministry, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), said in a statement on Monday that South African citizens aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla were among hundreds of civilians detained after Israeli forces seized the vessel Vincovolo. Pretoria further stated that its detained citizens could now face imprisonment in Israel.

“The government of South Africa notes with grave concern reports that, following the illegal seizure of the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza, South African nationals have been abducted in international waters and may now face detention and imprisonment in Israel,” DIRCO said in a statement.

Among the seven South Africans on board were Hajar Kagiso Al-Tha’irah Ahjum-Mathee, a 22-year-old master’s student at the University of the Western Cape, and Ambassador Faziel Moosa, a former South African ambassador to Qatar and veteran anti-apartheid activist, both from Cape Town.

The flotilla, a civilian-led initiative carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was attempting to challenge Israel’s blockade of the territory. According to the organisers, the Vincovolo was carrying doctors, journalists, and human rights defenders from more than 40 countries and was being taken to an Israeli port.

“The naval vessel carrying our kidnapped participants is scheduled to dock within approximately two hours,” the coalition said in a statement. It added that it was demanding the “immediate, unconditional release of all our participants”, alongside “the more than 9,000 unjustly detained Palestinian political prisoners”. Additionally, the coalition called for an end to what it described as “the genocide and aid blockade on Gaza”.

In addition to demanding their release, the Global Sumud Flotilla legal team raised concerns about the safety of detainees, citing testimonies from a 29 April interception that they said involved torture and abuse.

“Given testimonies from the 29 April illegal abduction of GSF participants in international waters, detailing patterns of torture, severe physical abuse, and invasive sexual violence perpetrated by Israeli occupation forces, we hold grave and immediate concerns for the physical safety and well-being of everyone illegally detained,” the group said.

Back in South Africa, the University of the Western Cape confirmed on Monday that Ahjum-Mathee, who chairs the university’s Palestinian Solidarity Association (PSA), was participating in the mission. She is pursuing a master’s degree in medical bioscience.

“The University of the Western Cape expresses pride in our postgraduate student, Hajar Kagiso Al-Tha’irah Ahjum-Mathee, who is representing South Africa on the Global Sumud Flotilla,” the university said. It added that the Vincovolo was carrying “essential humanitarian aid” and joined “the international call for the safe and immediate release of all detained participants”.

Ahjum-Mathee is the daughter of Dr Shahid Mathee, an Islamic scholar and senior lecturer in Islamic studies at the University of Johannesburg and a graduate of Al-Azhar University in Egypt. Her mother, Gadiia Ahjum, is a Cape Town-based radio presenter at Radio 786, an anti-apartheid activist and an academic who has written on the experiences of South African Muslim activists and Muslim women globally.

Moosa’s involvement in the flotilla also reflects a long history of activism. He was active in the African National Congress (ANC) anti-apartheid movement in his youth before serving in diplomatic and civil society roles focused on international solidarity campaigns.

His father, the late Judge Essa Moosa, was a human rights lawyer and former judge of South Africa’s Supreme Court. He chaired the Kurdish Human Rights Action Group in Cape Town (KHRAG); co-founded community media platforms such as Bush Radio and Grassroots newspaper; and served on the ANC Constitutional Committee that helped draft South Africa’s post-apartheid constitution.

Responding to the interception, DIRCO described the flotilla as a “civilian-led initiative” undertaking a “peaceful and humanitarian mission” aimed at drawing attention to “the severe and urgent humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza”.

“Any forceful detention of these vessels in international waters constitutes a grave breach of international legal norms and fundamental human rights,” Pretoria said. The department added that it would engage “all relevant stakeholders and organisations liaising with the GSF” to secure the release of those detained.

The interception at sea coincided with a separate Global Sumud mission that’s being blocked in Libya.

According to a statement by the Global Sumud Land Convoy, on 19 May more than 200 civilians from 25 countries had been forced to camp 9 km from the Sirte crossing after negotiations stalled amid a heavy military presence.

The convoy, transporting ambulances, medicine, and mobile homes, said it had received “permission and assurances of safe passage” from Libyan authorities before reaching the crossing on 17 May. It accused the Libyan National Army of deploying a “full military force” to intimidate participants.

“We condemn the show of force being deployed by the Libyan National Army at the Sirte crossing in an attempt to intimidate civilian participants and suppress this act of humanity,” the convoy said.

Participants repeatedly stated that they are “non-violent, unarmed civilians from all backgrounds, ages, religions, and beliefs” who were being prevented from delivering humanitarian aid.

“The Fourth Geneva Convention is unambiguous. All parties are obligated to allow the free passage of humanitarian aid and personnel,” the convoy added. “A military force now blocks unarmed civilians from delivering aid to a besieged population. This is not a grey area. It is a violation of international humanitarian law, and those responsible will be held accountable.”

The developments come as United Nations food agencies warn of worsening famine-like conditions in Gaza after more than two years of war, bombardment, and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid.

South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in December 2023, accusing it of violating international law in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly denied the allegations.