By Elham Buaras and Ahmed J Versi
London, (The Muslim News): The UK government faces mounting criticism for its muted response to Israel’s interception of the “Global Sumud Flotilla” and the deportation of its international activists. The tepid condemnation, issued just weeks after the UK formally recognized Palestine, has sparked accusations that the government is failing to uphold international law and protect its own citizens.
The crisis began when Israeli naval forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters, which was carrying humanitarian aid to challenge the Gaza blockade. They detained over 470 activists from 50 countries, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. The detainees — a diverse group of nationals from across Europe and the United States — were subsequently deported to third countries like Greece and Slovakia.
When pressed on the matter, Spokesperson for Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, carefully avoided direct criticism of Israel. Questioned by The Muslim News on Monday, the legality of arresting individuals in international waters, the spokesperson deferred, calling it “a matter for the Israeli government” and stating, “It’s obviously up to them to take those decisions.” The official reiterated that the UK’s priority was securing a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the flow of aid into Gaza, while insisting Israel “must act in line with international law.”
Reports from released activists allege severe mistreatment during detention. Thunberg described being held in a bedbug-infested cell with insufficient food and water. Turkish activist Ersin Celik offered a more harrowing account, alleging that Israeli forces “severely tortured Greta before our eyes,” forcing her to crawl and kiss the Israeli flag. Other released detainees described widespread violence, humiliation, and denial of legal counsel.
These accounts have fuelled anger among the activists’ families, who feel abandoned by their governments. Clare Azzougarh, daughter of 72-year-old British detainee Malcolm Ducker, said her family feels “immensely let down by the British government in so many ways.” Similarly, Laura Adler, sister of an detained American activist, criticized the weak US response. Both families reported their relatives were visited only once by consular officials, with no robust diplomatic action taken to ensure their fair treatment.
The flotilla’s seizure has prompted widespread condemnation from foreign governments, NGOs, and human rights groups. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry labelled the interception “illegal,” demanding the immediate release of its nationals, while the Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned it as a violation of the right to free passage.
This criticism was echoed by organizations including the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which called the operation an “illegal attack on unarmed humanitarians,” and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which accused Israel of “kidnapping… and engaging in piracy in international waters.”
The UK’s specific response has also reignited past critiques. The International Human Rights Committee (IHRC), referencing a similar 2024 incident, argued the government’s inaction undermines its recognition of Palestine. “Recognising Palestine must mean more than a statement,” IHRC spokesperson Zahir A. Patel had stated. “It requires holding Israel accountable for violations of international law, particularly when British citizens and activists are detained.”
For her part, Thunberg, after her release, redirected focus from her personal ordeal to the wider crisis. “There is a genocide going on in front of our very eyes, a live-streamed genocide,” she said, accusing Israel of escalating “mass destruction with genocide of intent.”
British citizen, Scottish Activist, Yvonne Ridley, who was aboard the Omar al-Mukhtaris, still being held by Israel.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza that the flotilla sought to alleviate remains catastrophic. Recent reports indicate ongoing civilian casualties, with the Palestinian death toll since October 2023 now exceeding 67,000. Twenty one Palestinians were killed and 96 injured by Israeli bombings in last 24 hours. As medical teams struggle to reach victims and aid deliveries fail to meet staggering needs, the UK government’s perceived passivity in the face of the flotilla incident has left it isolated, facing sharp questions about the practical meaning of its diplomatic commitments.
[Phot: Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, arrives to the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, in Athens, Greece on October 6, 2025. Photojournalist: Costas Baltas/AA]
