Two Canadians who were on board a Gaza-bound flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli forces say their experience in detention was “horrific” and they are relieved to finally be home.

Ontario residents Khurram Musti Khan and Mskwaasin Agnew were among six Canadians on board the Conscience vessel that was intercepted on Oct. 8. The members of the Canadian Boat to Gaza, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, were aiming to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza and break Israel’s naval blockade.

Both activists returned home this weekend, along with Quebec doctor Nimâ Machouf. Devoney Ellis, Sadie Mees and Nikita Stapleton, all of Newfoundland and Labrador, were expected to return to St. John’s on Tuesday.

Reached by phone Monday at his home in Milton, Ont., Musti Khan said he decided to participate in the flotilla after being involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy for a few years.

He said he put his name forward after first wanting to sail on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which had all of its 42 boats intercepted between Oct. 1 and 3 as it tried to reach Gaza.

He got the call he was selected to join the Freedom Flotilla just a few days before departure.

After nearly eight days on the boat, Musti Khan and Agnew were among 145 activists taken from international waters by Israel and brought to shore for processing and deportation.

The interception happened quickly, they said, and Israeli forces boarded the boat within 15 minutes. There were two helicopters, four or five naval boats, a plane and drones overhead and the soldiers that boarded the boat were all heavily armed, they said.

“It was a major operation,” the 51-year-old Musti Khan said. “I don’t know what made Israel conduct a major operation on a civilian operation like ours.”

Agnew, who spoke to The Canadian Press on Monday from her home in Toronto, said flotilla members spent about 15 hours with Israeli forces on board before being taken into custody. During that time, she said people were kept in crowded spaces and denied access to the bathroom.

“They were there to dehumanize us,” the 32-year-old said. “It was lots of soldiers and a lot of guns and they were very aggressive.”

Agnew, a Cree and Dene member of Salt River First Nation who is an Indigenous rights advocate and harm reduction worker, said it was important for her to be on the flotilla as a First Nations woman.

“It was important to express my solidarity, and Indigenous solidarity, with the understanding that none of us are free until we’re all free,” she said.

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