The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has confirmed that South African activists who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla have safely arrived in Jordan after being intercepted by the Israeli Navy last week.
Department spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said South Africa’s Ambassador to Jordan, Tselane Mokuena, was at the airport to receive the group after their deportation from Israel. He expressed government’s gratitude to all organisations and individuals who contributed to the activists’ safe return.
According to DIRCO, the delegation’s return to South Africa is being coordinated through diplomatic channels, with the financial arrangements supported by families and solidarity groups. The department emphasised that its role in the process was limited to diplomatic facilitation and engagement with relevant authorities.
The group is expected to arrive in Johannesburg on Wednesday. DIRCO also cautioned against misinformation about the extent of government involvement, noting that the repatriation was not funded by the state.
Meanwhile, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has also returned to Europe following her participation in the flotilla. Thunberg was among hundreds of international campaigners who attempted to deliver aid to Gaza by sea before being stopped by Israeli forces.
She landed in Greece on Monday with more than 160 activists expelled from Israel. The group was welcomed at Athens International Airport by supporters waving Palestinian flags and chanting messages of solidarity.
Thunberg described the Global Sumud Flotilla as a significant humanitarian mission aimed at challenging what activists have called Israel’s blockade of Gaza. She criticised the lack of international action to address the situation in the region and urged governments to take stronger measures to protect Palestinian civilians.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, made up of several vessels carrying aid and activists from different countries, was launched in an effort to draw global attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Although intercepted before reaching its destination, the mission has reignited international debate about the blockade and humanitarian access to the territory.
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