Hasnain Jafer, KCLSU’s Vice President Education (Health), has been detained by Israeli forces after participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) – a convoy of over 50 civilian vessels attempting to break the Israel-imposed blockade of Gaza.
Jafer was sailing on board the Josef/Yusuf when it was intercepted by Israeli forces in a daytime raid at around 8:15am on 18 May. The convoy was boarded in international waters near Cyprus, around 250 nautical miles (460km) from Gaza, according to GSF activists. Footage from the flotilla appeared to show commandos boarding multiple vessels. Activists associated with the flotilla said communications with several vessels were disrupted shortly after the boarding.
In a video released by multiple activist groups on Instagram, Jafer stated that viewing it meant he had been “kidnapped in international waters and taken by force” by Israel. He further called for the UK government to “return me and all of our other activists home.”
Jafer is among a number of activists reported to have been detained following the boarding. His current whereabouts and condition are unknown.
Jafer, who graduated from King’s in BSc Global Health and Social Medicine in January, has been active in the pro-Palestine student movement throughout his time at the university. He was among those who helped to launch the 2024 pro-Palestine student encampment at King’s.
In an email to KCL senior management, seen by Roar, Jafer criticised the university’s silence on the alleged Gaza genocide and pleaded for support, writing, “I am practically begging for your support, as my university, as my employer, as my community, as my backbone, and as my home away from home, to show your support, or at least speak up for my safety and protection by the UK government.”
He continued, “King’s prides itself to be a decolonial institution… Now’s your golden chance to set things right and prove it.”
“For the South African Apartheid, King’s played its part: partnerships were cut, scholasticide was challenged, academic freedom was centralised and protected, students and academics were safeguarded and talked about, and funding was cut from complicit channels. So why not for Palestine?”
He concluded, “The story of the next few weeks is not a story about Hasnain on a boat. It is a story about whether the bodies that claim to represent us, regulate us, and educate us are willing to stand up for our lives and safety.”
King’s College London has been approached for comment.
In a joint statement, KCL Students for Justice for Palestine (KCL SJP) and KCL Stands For Justice (KCL S4J) said that “Hasnain Jafer, alongside many others on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, have been illegally kidnapped by the Zionist entity [Israel] after setting sail in an effort to challenge and break the siege on Gaza… We demand that King’s College London ensures Hasnain Jafer, a staff member at KCLSU, is protected.”
The student groups also prompted students to “call on the UK government to demand for Hasnain Jafer’s release. Contact his local MP, Shabana Mahmood.”
A spokesperson for KCLSU said:
“We are aware that a member of our Sabbatical Officer team, Hasnain Jafer (Vice President Education (Health)), has elected to join the Global Sumud Flotilla in his personal capacity.
“We now believe that Hasnain has been detained in international waters.
“We recognise that many members of our community will share our concerns for his welfare and safety, and addressing these concerns remains our top priority. We are engaging with others with a view to ascertaining what we might do to facilitate his safe return.
“We note that any activity undertaken by KCLSU, a registered charity, must remain consistent with our charitable objectives, governance responsibilities, and trustees’ duties. This activity has not been organised, authorised, or funded by KCLSU.”
Multiple pro-Palestine activist groups, including KCL S4J, are now arranging an emergency protest outside Downing Street at 6pm on Tuesday, 19 May to “ensure that the government protects its citizens.”
The GSF is an international activist movement aiming to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip by supplying aid to its population. The most recent flotilla of 54 vessels and more than 420 activists departed from Marmaris in Türkiye at around 11:00am last Thursday, 14 May.
The mission comes amid mounting international concerns over humanitarian conditions in Gaza, with UN agencies repeatedly warning of severe shortages in food and medical aid. The Gaza Strip has been under blockade since 2007, with restrictions intensifying after the Gaza War on 7 October 2023. The blockade played a significant role in the ongoing International Court of Justice case against the State of Israel, where Israel stands accused of committing genocide against the Palestinian people.
In an X post shortly before the interception, Israel’s Foreign Ministry described the GSF as a “provocation for the sake of provocation” and maintained that “Israel will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.”
Previous interceptions of the GSF have received widespread condemnation. Earlier this month, United Nations spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan maintained that delivering humanitarian aid is “not a crime” and called for the immediate release of flotilla participants held by Israel.
UN experts and human rights officials have also raised concerns over the interception and detention of activists in international waters, arguing that such actions violate international law and freedom of navigation.
Amnesty International, an international human rights organisation, has previously raised concerns that activists have faced human rights abuses in detention, including sleep deprivation, denial of drinking water and medical care.
Israel maintains that its actions are in accordance with international law and that it remains committed to freedom of navigation.
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