A group of activists from the Bay Area are part of the Gaza protest flotilla that was detained in international waters by the Israeli military and deported to Turkey.
More than 400 activists with the Global Sumud Flotilla organization had their vessel intercepted on Monday by the Israeli naval forces.
Family members of several Bay Area residents and a former native of San Francisco said their loved ones were part of those who were deported from Israel to Istanbul on Thursday.
Those include North Bay residents Gregory Elias Terry, Kelly Riggle, Silas Beaver, and former SF resident Logan Hollarsmith, per KQED.
“The Israelis kidnapped these people in international waters,” Hollarsmith’s mom, Sidney Hollar, told the outlet.
Now lawmakers in the Golden State are calling on the US government to ensure their safe return to America.
Three of my constituents from the Spring 2026 Global Sumud Flotilla have reportedly been detained by the Israeli navy in international waters while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. I’m calling on Secretary Rubio and the State Department to ensure their…
— Rep. Jared Huffman (@RepHuffman) May 19, 2026
“Three of my constituents from the Spring 2026 Global Sumud Flotilla have reportedly been detained by the Israeli navy in international waters while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza,” North Bay Rep. Jared Huffman wrote on X.
“I’m calling on Secretary Rubio and the State Department to ensure their safety and fair treatment.”
He added, “The U.S. has an obligation to protect Americans abroad, and my team and I are working to safely get them home.”
The Flotilla departed from southern Turkey this week before being intercepted on their way to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza, before being detained by the Israeli military, per the group.
Earlier this week, video surfaced of Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir taunting the flotilla activists being pinned to the ground, with two later alleging they were physically assaulted in detention.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, condemned Ben-Gvir’s actions, saying he had “betrayed (the) dignity of his nation.”
Those detained will now remain in Turkey for a few days to receive medical treatment before flying home.
“While I’m super glad he’s coming home, the focus should remain on the need to stop the genocide,” Hollar told KQED. “That’s where the focus of everything should be, the point of what their mission was.”
This was the second time the flotilla was stopped this year, after the same one was intercepted in April, carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
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