Local woman in Israeli custody
Sadie Mees taken off aid flotilla ship, mother asks for public support
A 24-year-old Hastings native who was part of the international Freedom Flotilla attempting to get food to Gaza and stop the genocide is in Israeli custody.
Sadie Mees, who went to school in Hastings and high school in Peterborough before moving to Newfoundland to attend university, left on Sept. 7 to join the flotilla, said her mother Kira Mees, who is community development manager for Trent Hills. Her grandfather Bob Crate is mayor.
“We had contact until yesterday,” Kira said on Wednesday morning. “She was part of the Freedom Flotilla on the boat, Conscience, trying to bring aid and attention to Gaza. It was intercepted in international waters last night and she is now in the custody of the Israeli government.
“I ask that everyone reach out to MP Philip Lawrence’s office to demand action to secure the release of Sadie and the other five Canadians and end the support for the genocide in Gaza.”
The Canadian Press reported Wednesday afternoon that Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand posted on social media saying she was aware that six Canadians had been detained in Israel.
“She said officials with Global Affairs Canada were in touch with Israeli authorities and were offering consular services to all Canadian citizens.
“Canada urges Israel to ensure the safety of our citizens and to facilitate their swift release,” Anand said in the statement. “We will provide more information as it becomes available.”
Kira said that while onboard the ship Sadie learned that her Masters’ thesis had been approved.
CBC reports that there were about 100 people onboard the vessel Conscience when it was was boarded by Israeli forces when it was about 220 kilometres from the enclave.
“Israel’s foreign ministry reported in a post on X that everyone who was detained is safe and will soon be deported,” CBC says.
“The Israeli military intercepted a nine-boat flotilla trying to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza early Wednesday in the Mediterranean Sea and detained scores of activists on board, including six Canadians, the flotilla organizers and the Israeli Foreign Ministry said,” CBC reports.
“The ministry said the 145 activists taking part in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza were in good health and were being brought to shore in Israel for processing before they are deported.
“The interception came after nearly 450 activists from a previous, high-profile flotilla — including European lawmakers and climate activist Greta Thunberg — were intercepted on more than 40 boats last week trying to reach Gaza with a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid.”
You can read a longer story about the women from Newfoundland who joined the flotilla here on The Independent’s website.
“We must refuse to stand idly by and watch the Israeli obliteration of Palestine,” Sadie said on a flotilla website. “Their intentional targeting of the most marginalized members of our society with the most vicious kinds of cruelty possible is disturbing. It is the duty of all citizens of the world to tap into their humanity and courage and take action, for Palestine, and for all of us.”
You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.
Philp Lawrence is out of the country but his office says she is getting consulate asssistance.