Israel Frees Sheffield Men Detained on Gaza Aid Flotilla
SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Two Sheffield natives detained by Israeli forces while trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza have been released.
"THEY ARE FREE," the mother of Adnaan and Tor Stumo posted on Tuesday.
The Stumos were among the hundreds volunteering on the Global Sumund Flotilla to bring food and medical supplies to Gaza when they were intercepted by Israeli Defense Forces. Tor was taken from the Huga boat on Wednesday, and Adnaan from the Mikeno boat near Gaza on Thursday.
During their detainment, their mother, Nadia Milleron, an aviation and consumer advocate who ran as an independent for Congress in 2024, was searching for her sons while urging constituents and lawmakers to speak out against the actions of the IDF.
"Thank you to everyone for contacting your government officials, for sharing posts about my sons and the Flotilla, and for all of your messages of love and support," Milleron wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.
"I am so very grateful for all of you."
Above her thanks was a picture of Adnaan and Tor filing out of a bus with a heart drawn around them.
The flotilla that set out from Spain early last month had about 50 vessels with 500 activists and humanitarian aid. They were escorted part of the way by the Spanish and Italian navies.
According to the Global Sumud Flotilla tracker, the Huga was intercepted around 4:15 on Oct. 1, and the Mikeno was intercepted around 4:20 a.m. on Oct. 2.
"All 42 boats in the historic Global Sumud Flotilla mission were illegally intercepted between October 1-3, while attempting to break Israel's siege on Gaza. 462 people were kidnapped in international waters," the flotilla’s website reads.
"This world's commitment to stand with Palestine continues. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, in partnership with Thousand Madleens and the Conscience, has more boats on the way."
Along with the Stumos were climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was deported to Greece on Monday with 170 others, and Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla Mandela.
Mandela was released and flown to South Africa on Wednesday morning. Those detained have spoken of mistreatment and Mandela and other South Africans believe they were singled out because of their nation's involvement in a U.N. case accusing Israel of genocide.
"My kids insist that countries behave in a humane manner toward all citizens, so that our world will be good for everybody to live in. And that's the type of people that they are, and that's the standard that they are looking for from everyone," Milleron told iBerkshires on Monday.
She said Israel accused people who went through rigorous nonviolent training of being terrorists. Reportedly, flotilla volunteers threw away all knives and screwdrivers before being intercepted, so they did not appear violent.
