ORCAS ISLAND, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – An Orcas Island resident was among those detained by Israel while participating in an aid flotilla bound for Gaza.
Jasmine Ikeda was among more than 500 people from dozens of countries that were part of the flotilla, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
They had aimed to deliver food, water and medicine to civilians in Gaza who are facing what the United Nations has labeled a humanitarian crisis.
But the flotilla was intercepted on Wednesday, Oct. 1 by the Israeli military, which placed hundreds of the participants in custody.
U.S. Representative Rick Larsen says he’s been in touch with Ikeda’s family and is working to get her released.
Larsen says he’s reached out to the State Department and asked the U.S. Embassy in Israel to ensure that she’s receiving humane treatment and due process while in detention.
