Freedom Flotilla vessel departs Bristol amid history of Israeli interceptions
Captain Fiacc O Brolchain and supporters including David Miller and Leigh Evans witness departure from Hannover Quay as activists prepare to challenge Gaza blockade.
A vessel named Kate departed from Hannover Quay in Bristol on Sunday, carrying 12 activists as part of the Freedom Flotilla’s latest effort to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The departure was witnessed by a group of supporters, including Swee Ang, founder of Medical Aid for Palestinians, Welsh nurse Leigh Evans, and academic David Miller.
Fiacc O Brolchain, the Irish sailor and captain of the Kate, was detained by Israeli forces earlier this year during a previous mission. He reported that his hearing aids were seized during interrogation, stating he repeatedly told soldiers, “I can’t hear you; you took my hearing aids.”
Frank Romano, an international lawyer and member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, highlighted the scale of enforcement against such missions. He noted that since October 2023, Israeli forces have intercepted and detained more than 75 solidarity ships and boats. Romano, who has represented Palestinian cases before the International Court of Justice, said he has succeeded in retrieving only two vessels despite legal battles.
Romano owns the vessel Handala, which was intercepted and detained in July 2025. He stated that the Global Sumud Flotilla has cost $24m so far, having launched its first mission last year and a larger one in April. The movement continues to send boats in different waves despite the high risk of interception.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was among passengers detained by Israel in October when their boat, the Alma, was intercepted. She alleged physical and psychological abuse while detained, allegations that Israel has denied.
Irish activist Colm Byrne, who is setting sail again, reported that in April he was intercepted more than 1,000km from Gaza. He alleged that activists were kicked, beaten, and forced into painful postures, resulting in a shoulder injury for Byrne. He described activists being made to spend four hours on their knees with hands tied behind their backs before being transferred to prison.
Despite the reported mistreatment, Byrne stressed that the humiliation faced by activists does not compare with the scale of abuse suffered by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Israel has a history of intercepting flotillas attempting to reach Gaza, including incidents in international waters.
