Shahidul Alam says he has been 'kidnapped at sea' by Israeli forces

Bangla Press Desk: Bangladeshi photographer and writer Shahidul Alam, in a Facebook video message, has claimed that he was intercepted at sea and kidnapped by Israeli forces.

In the video posted around 10:20am, Shahidul Alam said, "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."

He further appealed to his "comrades and friends" to continue the struggle for the freedom of Palestine. The Facebook status did not provide details on his current condition.

Israel on Wednesday said it intercepted all the nine vessels of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, the latest to attempt to breach illegal blockade of Gaza Strip, and are taking the passengers to a seaport for deportation.

Earlier, the flotilla organisers confirmed Israel attacked The Conscience, which hosted 93 activists including Shahidul Alam. It set sail from Italy about two weeks ago.

“Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on X on Wednesday morning.

“The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port. All the passengers are safe and in good health. The passengers are expected to be deported promptly,” it added.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim strongly condemned the Israeli military’s illegal interception and demanded that Malaysian activists taking part in the flotilla mission be released.

Wednesday’s development comes a week after the Navy intercepted 42 vessels that formed the Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest to challenge the Gaza blockade to date. Israel has deported most of the 479 activists who took part in that armada, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

BP/SP