BREAKING NEWS: South African activist captured by Israeli armed forces
JOHANNESBURG - South African pro-Palestine activist Leigh-Ann Naidoo has been captured by Israeli armed forces and is calling on the South African government to assist in her release.
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Naidoo was part of Women’s Boat to Gaza, as the South African representative, in an attempt break Israel’s crippling blockade of Gaza on 5 October.
@BDSsouthafrica @MRN1SA @PalestineSa @ijassat #BringBackLeighAnn #SOSWomenToGaza https://t.co/jCg735FPtm
— NC4P South Africa (@NC4Psouthafrica) October 6, 2016
According to reports, Israeli naval commandos intercepted the boat, surrounding it in international waters about 36 nautical miles from Gaza’s shore and took control of the boat before taking it to the Israeli port city of Ashdod.
Naidoo released a video which has surfaced on Youtube calling on the South African government to assist in their release.
Other passengers on the boat include former Nobel peace laureate Mairead Maguire from Northern Ireland, Fauziah Hasan, a doctor from Malaysia, several parliamentarians and retired US army colonel Ann Wright.
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