South African activist and MP Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, has been taken by Israeli forces after they intercepted a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza on Wednesday, 1 October 2025.
The flotilla, known as the Global Sumud Flotilla, was made up of about 45 boats carrying activists and politicians from around the world, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
According to organisers, Israeli navy warships surrounded the boats as they sailed about 170 kilometres from the Gaza Strip.
The flotilla had departed from Spain last month with the aim of breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where the United Nations has reported famine conditions.
The activists said on social media that Israeli forces were boarding vessels, with Mandela among those seized.
The flotilla had earlier faced warnings. The Israeli navy radioed the ships, instructing them to change course, claiming they were “approaching an active combat zone” and violating a blockade.
Spain and Italy, which had provided naval escorts, both urged the flotilla to stop before entering Israel’s exclusion zone.
However, the activists continued, saying they would not be intimidated.
“We sail on undeterred by Israeli threats and tactics of intimidation,” the organisers wrote online .
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Israeli authorities were “currently boarding” the flotilla.
Other politicians on board, including French and Franco-Palestinian members of parliament, also reported the interception as it unfolded.
South Africa’s government has since expressed concern. In a statement, officials called for “utmost restraint and caution against any unilateral actions that could escalate the situation or endanger human life.”
They emphasised that “the safety, security, and physical integrity of all unarmed participants aboard the flotilla, including South African citizens, are of paramount importance”.
The Global Sumud Flotilla had already faced hostility earlier in September, when organisers reported drone attacks during a stop in Tunisia. They accused Israel of using harassment tactics to block aid from reaching Gaza.
Mandela’s capture has drawn widespread attention due to his family’s legacy and his outspoken activism for Palestinian rights.
Leaders from Spain, Italy, and Greece have appealed for Israel to guarantee the safety of all those on board, while activists worldwide have condemned the interception.
As investigations continue, it remains unclear where Mandela and the other detained activists are being held. South Africa is expected to push for their immediate release.