A Belleville man has been confirmed as one of a handful of Canadians on a Global Sumud Flotilla seized by Israeli forces.
Shahid Mahmood, a Canadian citizen and Belleville resident, was the last of the 12 Canadians to be seized on the Flotilla en route to Gaza to provide humanitarian aid sometime on Sunday or Monday.
All Flotilla boats have been intercepted and 428 participants held captive, with none released.
Mahmood and the other detainees are believed to be held in a prison in Ashdod, Israel.
Videos have been posted online of the detainees subjected to rough treatment and held in stress positions.
Prime Minister Mark Carney was quoted as saying the conditions the detainees were in were ‘abominable’ and ‘unacceptable’ on social media Wednesday.
In a message to InQuinte.ca, Amnesty International Quinte representatives condemned Israel’s interception of boats in international waters, and the abduction off those boats of non-violent activists risking a great deal to keep the world’s attention on the insupportable situation facing Palestinians.
“The activists understand that Israel’s apartheid and genocidal behaviour must stop. Israel must be stopped. Amnesty Quinte is holding Shahid, a compassionate defender of human rights, in our hearts.”
Mahmood is also a co-founder of Belleville for Justice and Peace.
