Gaza-Bound Flotilla: Shahidul Alam abducted by Israel
Staff Reporter :
Renowned photographer and writer Shahidul Alam has claimed he was “kidnapped” by Israeli forces after his vessel was intercepted in international waters while en route to Gaza with humanitarian aid.
In a pre-recorded video posted to his official Facebook page, Alam said, “I am Shahidul Alam, a photographer and writer from Bangladesh. If you are seeing this video, we have been intercepted at sea and I have been kidnapped by the Occupation Forces of Israel, the country conducting genocide in Gaza with active collaboration and assistance of the USA and other western powers.
I appeal to all my comrades and friends to continue fighting for the freedom of Palestine.”
Alam was aboard the Conscience, one of several ships organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), carrying humanitarian aid and international activists aiming to reach Gaza despite Israel’s naval blockade. According to the coalition, Israeli naval forces surrounded and boarded the vessel roughly 220 kilometers off Gaza’s coast on Tuesday night. Communication with the ship ceased soon after. Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the interception on social media, describing it as “another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone.” The ministry said all passengers were “safe and in good health” and would be deported promptly after being taken to an Israeli port.
This latest operation follows a string of similar incidents in recent days. On October 2, Israeli forces stopped the Global Sumud Flotilla, a 41-vessel convoy carrying nearly 500 activists and aid workers.
Among those detained were Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and several European lawmakers. Earlier in July, another aid vessel, Handala, was seized by Israeli forces in international waters. Twenty-one activists and journalists were taken into custody, sparking widespread criticism from human rights organisations.
Observers say the repeated interceptions highlight Israel’s tightening control over maritime access to Gaza, as well as the growing global defiance of its blockade. Human rights groups and maritime law experts argue that intercepting civilian aid missions in international waters violates international law, while Israel insists the blockade is a legal security measure against Hamas.
Meanwhile, following the of Shahidul Alam, different political organisations including Bangladesh Nationalist Party have condemned the kidnapping and urged the Interim Government of Bangladesh to bring him back.
“Bring back Shahidul Aalm. I urge the government to take immediate action for his safe return to Bangladesh,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in his facebook post on Wednesday.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Wednesday also demanded immediate release of Shahidul Alam.
“Shahidul stands as a shining embodiment of the unyielding spirit of Bangladesh. May Allah protect and keep Shahidul and the rest of the team safe,” he wrote on his facebook post.
“Our hearts and prayers are with Shahidul Alam. The extraordinary courage and resilience that sustained Shahidul during his imprisonment under the Hasina government will once again carry him through this latest ordeal,” he said.
“Yet even as we focus on Shahidul’s safety, we must not lose sight on Shahidul’s safety, we must not lose sight of the broader context: the ongoing devastation and genocide in Gaza. The global spotlight must remain fixed on the catastrophic loss of life, the relentless destruction, and the devastated humanitarian landscape there. This is not only a tragedy but a profound moral test for the international community, one that demands attention, accountability, and action,” he said.
Bangladesh Jammat-e-Islami also condemned the detention of Shahidul Alam and demanded the immediate release of all human rights workers including Alam. Condemning the detention, Dhaka Reporters Unity also demanded his immediate release.
Meanwhile, news of the Conscience interception has triggered protests and condemnation worldwide. Demonstrations erupted across major cities in Europe, including Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Italian trade unions staged strikes demanding the release of detained activists.
Amnesty International and other rights groups have called the blockade “collective punishment” and urged Israel to allow unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross has expressed concern over reports of detainees being held incommunicado.
Thunberg, released earlier this week, alleged mistreatment during her detention, claiming she was denied medication and subjected to harsh interrogation. Her allegations have added fuel to the growing criticism of Israel’s handling of foreign detainees.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern over the incident, calling it “a flagrant violation of international law and human rights.”
The statement urged Israel to immediately release Shahidul Alam and all other detainees and to end its “illegal blockade and occupation” of Gaza.