Paul Reid had departed with the flotilla from Barcelona in early September, and his mother says she has no clue where he is — or if he’s still alive.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The ship carrying a Portland man sailing to the Gaza Strip as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla is presumed have been intercepted by the Israeli naval forces on Thursday.
His mother, Jan Levin, said that she now has no clue of his whereabouts.
“This was a peaceful, non-violent humanitarian aid mission. Their purpose was to bring food, medicine, baby formula, diapers and rice to Gaza,” explained Levin.
Paul Reid, 48, flew to Barcelona in late August, where he joined the flotilla that included over 40 boats, all carrying food, medicine and supplies. It was the largest flotilla yet to try to break Israel’s blockade and has drawn international attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
As the flotilla neared the coastline of the Gaza Strip Thursday, Israeli naval forces intercepted and detained some 450 international activists, including Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson and several European lawmakers, the Associated Press reported.
The Global Sumud Flotilla website that’s been tracking the ship’s progress now lists in red text that 28 of the 42 ships have been “intercepted.” A dozen or so of the boats are listed as “assumed intercepted.” This includes the ship, Inana, the last boat Levin knew her son to be on.
“They came after them with huge spotlights and started water cannoning them. We have not heard anything about Paul, and I don’t know where he is or what is happening,” Levin said.
Levin told KGW that’s been a “wreck” and that she’s tried calling offices in Jerusalem but has not been able to get any information on his whereabouts nor has she heard from him.
Right now, Levin said she just wants to know he’s alive.
Before her son set sail, Levin told KGW in early September she understood the risks and believes in the mission.
“I’m incredibly proud, but I’m also terrified,” said Levin at the time. She had flown to Portland from her home in Ohio. “I couldn’t leave without saying good-bye because I don’t know when I’m going to see him again, or if I’m going to see him again.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the mission a “provocation,” while supporters have said it was intended to deliver humanitarian aid. Israel has come under intense criticism for how much aid it lets into Gaza and how it distributes the goods. It has vehemently denied it is committing genocide.
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As of Thursday, only one boat remained. It had been further away from the pack and Israeli authorities have said it would be intercepted if it approached, AP reported.
The flotilla has streamed its voyage online via live cameras aboard different boats, since setting said. Most connections were lost as Israeli authorities began boarding them in international waters on Wednesday evening.
Prior to the possible interception of his boat, Reid sent his mother videos that she says show Israeli naval forces firing high-pressure water cannons at the vessel in the middle of the night. In the footage, another boat can be seen in the distance spraying water as Reid and his crew hunker inside the cabin.
