Family awaits news of 3 Newfoundlanders detained by Israel off Gaza

Three activists from Newfoundland appear to remain detained in Israel, several days after the Gaza-bound aid flotilla they were part of was intercepted at sea.

Newfoundlanders Devoney Ellis, Sadie Mees and Nikita Stapleton were aboard the Conscience, one of nine vessels in a flotilla that had aimed to reach Gaza.

Israeli forces stopped the flotilla on Wednesday and took scores of activists into custody — including the trio from Newfoundland and three other Canadians.

The flotilla organizers slammed the detainments as "arbitrary and unlawful."

Israeli's foreign ministry, meanwhile, said the detained flotilla participants were in good health, and would be brought ashore for processing, before being deported.

While the Newfoundland activists appear to remain in custody, CTV News reports that the three other Canadians — including a Montreal doctor — have since been freed.

Limited information available

Vicki Axford, the aunt of Sadie Mees, said her niece's family has limited information on what's going on.

"There's been no news since yesterday," Axford told CBC Radio's On The Go on Friday afternoon.

"[Sadie] appears to be doing OK, considering the circumstances," her aunt said.

Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond late Friday to an emailed request for comment on the status of the Newfoundlanders who have been detained in Israel.

On Thursday, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand had urged all Canadians detained by Israel to accept accept Ottawa's consular help to get home.

Just over two years ago, a Hamas-led attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, saw some 1,200 people killed, and 251 others taken hostage.

Those events ignited a war that saw Israel launch a military response that has left more than 67,000 people dead in the seaside enclave, according to Palestinian tallies.

In more recent developments, a ceasefire deal is set to soon come into effect that would see the release of all remaining hostages and Palestinian prisoners.