A South African activist resident in Kenya has been caught up in the Israeli blockade on a humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza.
Ms Zukiswa Wanner was reportedly apprehended by Israeli forces during the Global Sumud Flotilla mission in international waters off the coast of Gaza.
Ms Zukiswa's husband, Mr James Murua, on Thursday called for an immediate action to ensure her release and asked the Kenyan government and the African Union to intervene.
Ms Zukiswa, a South African national, had joined other activists from around the world when, on the night of October 1, they were apprehended as they headed to Gaza. Israel has said the flotilla is a Hamas ploy to re-arm, even though activists say they are delivering essential food and other items to civilians under blockade since October 2023.
“In late September, she joined the South African delegation in the Global Sumud Flotilla to deliver food and medicine to the suffering people. After many mishaps, including sabotage of boats by unknown individuals, they set off to deliver aid to Gaza,” the letter reads.
The flotilla, comprising over 50 vessels and thousands of participants—including activists, doctors, and artists from more than 44 countries—is said to have been intercepted by Israeli forces while delivering food and medical supplies to the people of Gaza, who are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
“I appeal directly to the government of Kenya, where she has been a resident for the past fourteen years, and to the African Union, to do everything in their power to secure the release of her and others kidnapped by the Israeli regime. I also appeal to Black writers, activists, and anyone of good conscience to raise their voices in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla and the people of Gaza, who are enduring almost unimaginable horrors in their struggle to survive a power bent on erasing their existence,” Mr Murua wrote in an open letter he shared on Thursday.
According to him, the flotilla’s tracking system was disrupted in the middle of the night, leaving him distraught and unsure where to begin searching for the team.
“I had been tracking the flotilla via the official tracker and live stream until 1 am, when I went to sleep. When I woke up at 4 a.m., I saw that the flotilla had been intercepted, and I broke down in tears.”
Ms Zukiswa, 49, was born in Lusaka and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe. She has been a lifelong advocate for the Palestinian people—a commitment her husband attributes to her roots in the African National Congress, which fought for South Africa’s independence.
Ms Zukiswa has been a supporter of the Palestinian cause and had, in 2023, attended the Palestine Festival of Literature (PalFest) where she says she witnessed the apartheid-like conditions firsthand. The disturbing images and accounts of settler colonialism, genocide, and movement restrictions inspired her to write a book titled Vignettes of People in an Apartheid State , her husband said.
Her unwavering campaign to draw global attention to the crisis in Gaza led her to return the Goethe Medal to the German government in 2024.
“In any other situation, I wouldn’t be worried about my partner’s safety, but the Israelis have shown singular cruelty to anyone who stands in the way of their mission to eradicate Palestinians from the face of the earth,” Murua added.
This plea comes amid growing international calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and recognition of a two-state solution as a long-term path to ending the protracted conflict in the Middle East.
Israel, meanwhile said it would deport all apprehended activists back to Europe, their last points of departure. A statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry did not refer to the activist directly but said none of the boats would be allowed in.
“None of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts has succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade. All the passengers are safe and in good health,” it said.
“They are making their way safely to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe. One last vessel of this provocation remains at a distance. If it approaches, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented.”
