Kidnapped by Israeli occupation forces, Shahidul Alam says in video as Gaza flotilla vessel Conscience intercepted
'If you are seeing this video, we have been intercepted at sea, and I have been kidnapped by the occupation forces of Israel,' Shahidul Alam says in the video.
The Gaza aid flotilla vessel Conscience, carrying many including photojournalist Shahidul Alam, has reportedly been intercepted by Israeli forces.
In a prerecorded video released on his Facebook profile at 10:17am today (8 October), the photojournalist says, "I am Shahidul Alam, a photographer and writer from Bangladesh. If you are seeing this video, we have been intercepted at sea, and I have been kidnapped by the occupation forces of Israel, the country conducting genocide in Gaza with active collaboration and assistance of the USA and other Western powers."
"I appeal to all my comrades and friends to continue fighting for the freedom of Palestine," adds Shahidul, managing director of the media organisation Drik.
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According to a post from his verified Facebook account made at around 3pm, "Until Shahidul Alam is released, his Facebook page will be managed by 'Bangladesh Stands With Palestine' and 'Free Shahidul' activists."
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said today that the Israeli military attacked its convoy of boats and intercepted several vessels as they were sailing towards Gaza, reports Al Jazeera.
The coalition added that the military attacked The Conscience, a boat carrying 93 journalists, doctors and activists, before it attacked and intercepted three smaller boats today.
Its passengers are "being held in unknown conditions," it said.
Meanwhile, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed on X that a raid on the flotilla has taken place.
Parvez Ahmad, media coordinator at Drik, said, "Once the people on board the ship sense that they are likely to be intercepted or are approaching a danger zone, they release their pre-recorded videos by any means available. Immediately afterwards, they drop their electronic devices into the water [to prevent them from being seized], which would otherwise make their detention more complicated. That is why everyone on board travels light.
"The last video uploaded by Shahidul Alam was at around 8:30am (Bangladesh time) or 5:30am Palestine time. We assume he was kidnapped within about 30 minutes of that upload, during which all communication with him was lost."
No further details about his location or the circumstances of his interception could be independently verified at the time of reporting.
Shafiqul Alam, the chief adviser's press secretary, demanded the immediate release of Shahidul and others from the flotilla, saying, "Shahidul stands as a shining embodiment of the unyielding spirit of Bangladesh."
Shahidul, an internationally renowned photojournalist and human rights activist, has been an outspoken critic of global inaction over the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
The Conscience, a vessel of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, carrying journalists and medics, was expected to reach the "red zone" this morning, Shahidul had said in a Facebook post yesterday.
"We expect to reach the 'red zone' early tomorrow morning," wrote Shahidul, who was on board the vessel.
The Conscience is part of the FFC mission, which aims to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza. According to Shahidul, the flotilla continued its journey despite the risk of interception by the Israeli military.
'Under attack'
The Guardian reported earlier in the day that a new flotilla aiming to deliver aid to Gaza had been intercepted by the Israeli military, just days after the detention of activists aboard vessels heading to the conflict-affected region sparked international outrage and protests.
According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Israeli military was disrupting signals as it boarded at least two boats. They stated on Instagram, "The Israeli military has no legal jurisdiction over international waters. Our flotilla poses no harm."
Organisers reported on X that three vessels, Gaza Sunbirds, Alaa Al-Najjar and Anas Al-Sharif, were attacked and unlawfully intercepted by the Israeli military early in the morning, approximately 220km off Gaza's coast.
They noted that another ship, the Conscience, was also "under attack."
The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed it had intercepted boats trying to reach Gaza, stating that those aboard would be taken to an Israeli port and deported.
In an online post, it described the action as "another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing."
The coalition said in a press release that the boats were headed to Ashdod port for processing and detention.
Aid efforts
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international network of pro-Palestinian activist groups, organises civilian maritime missions aimed at breaking Israel's blockade of Gaza to deliver vital humanitarian aid.
The ships carried over $110,000 worth of medical supplies, respiratory equipment and nutrition intended for hospitals struggling in Gaza, the coalition said.
This incident follows a similar occurrence where Israel intercepted around 40 vessels and detained more than 450 activists from an aid convoy, the Global Sumud Flotilla, making a parallel effort to deliver essential supplies to Gaza.
Reports from some activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, indicated that they faced brutal physical and verbal abuse by Israeli forces during their detention earlier this week..
