British government abandons British flotilla activists

Anti-terror police arrested four British activists on their return from attempting to break the Gaza siege on the Global Sumud Flotilla. They had already arrested Sarah Wilkinson when she returned, which takes the total to five.

BREAKING: 4 DETAINED AT HEATHROW, INCLUDING HANNAH

4 UK citizens who were detained by Israel on the Global Sumud Flotilla have arrived in the UK, and were immediately detained at Heathrow Airport.

There are reports that three have just been released, but one is still being… pic.twitter.com/8mBPxAMviV

— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) October 8, 2025

Flotilla activists abandoned by government

Israel illegally abducted 13 British citizens in international waters. They were on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, attempting to deliver supplies to Gaza.

The activists detailed awful conditions in Israeli captivity, and criticised the British Government for the lack of support.

But when Malcolm Ducker, Hannah Schafer, Sid Khan, and Jim Hickey returned to the UK, authorities put them through further detention.

Waiting at Heathrow Airport for four British volunteers onboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. Just been told that all four have been detained by British Police and had their passports taken away from them. Unclear why they have been detained.

— Areeb Ullah (@are_eb) October 8, 2025

Been told that three of the volunteers will be released. Not clear who has freed. The four volunteers coming out today are Malcolm Ducker, Hannah Schafer, Sidkhan and Jim Hickey.

— Areeb Ullah (@are_eb) October 8, 2025

Authorities released two of the activists – Hickey and Khan – relatively quickly. But both Ducker and Schafer were detained for around two hours.

Malcolm Ducker – who captained the All In and got the closest to the Gaza Strip- has been released alongside Hannah Schafer. pic.twitter.com/RBYGNtJZKa

— Areeb Ullah (@are_eb) October 8, 2025

Double standards

Many social media users raised questions about the IOF soldiers being able to freely return to the UK after participating in genocide.

IOF soldiers returning from Israel don’t get treated this way – only those trying to feed Gazans being starved by Israel.

Helping genocide victims must be un-British or something. https://t.co/ECZjIeW29t

— Sika_dm (@Sika_dm) October 9, 2025

So killing babies and children is okay. But trying to deliver food to starving babies is unacceptable?

IDF soldier: welcome
Peace activist delivering baby formula: detained. https://t.co/o6uqpTG4R6

— JaneyMac 🇵🇸 💚🤍💜🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@Roeburnscar) October 8, 2025

Of course if they were British IDF members who had come back to UK after killing babies and children they would be allowed straight through. https://t.co/M8A1ZLqekj

— JmRoyle #LFC #YNWA #BLM #RejoinEU (@MyArrse) October 8, 2025

Back in 2023, Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell said the following, in response to a parliamentary question:

The IDF is a recognised armed force and British nationals are both able to volunteer into the IDF and eligible for national service. For Israel, one does not have to be Israeli to serve in the IDF.

Recently, Starmer decided to ban IOF soldiers from studying at one of the UK’s “most prestigious” military academies.

Recently, the UK has recognised the state of Palestine. Since then, legal professionals have confirmed that the police can prosecute Brits for serving in the IDF in Gaza and the West Bank.

However, the law cannot be applied retrospectively. This means British soldiers who fought for the IDF in the two years before the UK recognised the state of Palestine cannot be prosecuted.

This means the government will allow countless soldiers who have spent the last two years murdering children to roam free in Britain.

Why does the UK suddenly care?

When Israel initially abducted the activists, the British Government did not appear to care.

Scottish flotilla activist Sid Khan says the British embassy didn’t visit him in jail for 5 days

When they did, he says he was told: ‘The British Government has no intention of putting on any flights for you at the moment’ 👇

🎥 @MaryNazzal2 @GMTG_UKhttps://t.co/avrHuWLxGU

— Lucy Jackson (@LucyAJackson_) October 7, 2025

Starmer even said, in a statement, that:

I’ve always said that the Israeli Government must obviously act in line with international law. It’s obviously up to them to take those decisions [on detentions].”

He had no interest in getting the activists home. But as soon as they arrive? Detained.

two days ago Starmer had no interest in the flotilla activists abducted by Israel in international waters, but as soon as they land back in the UK they are detained, what the hell is going on https://t.co/aUWAYKZUxn pic.twitter.com/T5nnXmTmTS

— Cuz (@HeIsTheCuz) October 8, 2025

Starmer hits a new low, British citizens kidnapped in international waters by Israel detained on their return to Heathrow. https://t.co/eagJBT9HGq

— Richard_Alonzo STW 🇵🇸 Free Palestine. (@Richard_Alonzo) October 8, 2025

Starmer will oversee the detention of peaceful activists – attempting to break a decades-long, illegal siege on Gaza. Yet he will allow IDF soldiers who may well have killed hundreds of innocent people on behalf of a terrorist state to walk Britain’s streets without consequence.

Feature image via France 24 English/Youtube