Kingston native recounts experience in Israeli custody after boarding Gaza-bound aid flotilla

Liam Henrie, a 32-year-old Kingston native and former Clearwater captain, shared his experience after being arrested by Israeli officials while aboard a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for Gaza. The sailboat, named La Cirena, was carrying food and medical supplies when it was boarded by Israeli Navy personnel on May 18, leading to the arrest of Henrie and the entire crew.

Henrie’s activism began following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which he described as a “brutal” event. He criticized what he called a “drastically disproportionate” Israeli response, leading him to risk arrest and injury by joining the flotilla. Despite his opposition to the attack, Henrie acknowledged the tragedy, stating, “What happened (in Israel on Oct. 7) was really awful, and I, obviously, I don’t like support that.”

Henrie drew a parallel between the Israeli response to the October 7 attack and the United States’ reaction to the September 11, 2001, attacks. He argued that both events were responses to decades of Western violence and imperialism, rather than purely ideological or religiously motivated extremism. “I don’t think 9/11 in any way justified the subsequent murder and destruction wrought by the US and allies in the Middle East,” he said, emphasizing that the comparison is “apt” but not for the reasons often claimed by pro-Israel advocates.

Henrie expressed sympathy for the “struggle of the Palestinian people” and admitted feeling powerless for years before finding a way to contribute. When a friend informed him about the flotilla, he said, “I signed up and away I went.” He acknowledged the risk, stating, “We were totally aware… almost a guarantee that we would get captured.” The crew’s goal was to reach Gaza, with the hope that public pressure might influence the situation.

Henrie’s reflections highlight the complex moral and political landscape surrounding the conflict in Gaza, as well as the personal risks individuals take in pursuit of humanitarian aid. His experience underscores the ongoing tensions and the difficult choices faced by those who seek to act in the name of justice and mercy.

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