Two Humboldt Residents Detained as Israeli Military Intercepts Global Sumud Flotilla — Again

The phone call never came.

Silas Beaver had reached out just 24 hours before we believe he was captured by the Israeli military on May 18, as we tried to coordinate a long-distance interview. “Hey …let’s do something asap,” he wrote on May 17, as the sailboat the Humboldt County resident was on sailed toward Gaza’s territorial waters. “We’re getting to the point where we could be scooped up anytime. Again.” 

Now Silas Beaver is in Israeli custody – his location and condition unknown. 

But he’s not alone. Somewhere within the group of over 400 of civilian volunteers taken from 50 different vessels caught in the Israeli Navy’s flotilla dragnet through international waters, is another Humboldt County man– Greg Terry, of Arcata. 

A Second Interception in International Waters

In the early hours of Monday, May 18, the Israeli military surrounded the Global Sumud Flotilla approximately 250 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza in international waters, far beyond any legal jurisdiction to intercept civilian vessels.  

 Screengrab of a live recording replay shows several Israeli soldiers boarding the sailboat with long guns. Video of various interceptions at sea can be found at the Global Sumud Flotilla website.

The fully armed soldiers began boarding boats and detaining participants. According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, over 400 delegates have been abducted from 50 flotilla vessels. News outlets report they are being transported to a prison in the Israeli port of Ashdod.

Both Humboldt County residents currently sailing — Silas Beaver and Greg Terry — are among those detained.

Pre-recorded SOS videos from both men, made in anticipation of exactly this scenario, have been posted to the flotilla’s website Greg Terry’s SOS video | Silas Beaver’s SOS video.

Silas Beaver was among those detained in April. After his release, he rejoined the flotilla in Turkey and continued toward Gaza. Greg Terry had avoided the first interception entirely — only to be caught in this second one.

Four Humboldt residents originally set sail on the mission: brothers Windfield and Silas Beaver, Greg Terry, and Sacha Marini. 

Windfield Beaver has since returned to California. Marini, undeterred after the first interception, wrote at the time that “now is the time to mobilize… to shine a spotlight on what has happened… and keep our focus on the people of Palestine… to support them in their struggle for dignified humanity and land sovereignty.” According to the May 18 press release, Marini is currently stationed in Cyprus, doing ground support and working to repair damaged flotilla vessels.

Trump’s State Dept. Implicates Flotilla Organizers in Hamas Networks 

Today on May 19, the U.S. State Department announced sanctions targeting what it described as “organizers of a Hamas-backed flotilla attempting to reach Gaza.” The action was part of broader counterterrorism measures directed at organizations and individuals the administration alleges support Hamas and affiliated groups. 

Image of a Global Sumud Flotilla sailboat with the sun setting in the distance, over Mediterranean seas. [Image provided by GSF.]

Second Open Sea Interception

This is not the first time Israeli forces have boarded these vessels. In late April, the military intercepted the flotilla near Greece — more than 600 miles from Gaza’s shores. At that time, twenty-two boats were boarded and over 170 people reportedly detained by the State of Israel. The GSF press release states that during that detention, some delegates were subjected to physical abuse, sexual assault, and torture. 

From the April interception, the vast majority of detained activists were deported to Greek shores. But two were held significantly longer. Saif Abukeshek of Spain and Thiago Ávila of Brazil were held without charges in an Israeli prison following the April raid.  The UN human rights office called on Israel to immediately release both men, warning that attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza “is not a crime,” according to the UN.  Both were ultimately released from Ashkelon’s Shikma detention facility and deported — after which Abukeshek announced the flotilla would sail again from Turkey.

A photo provided by the Flotilla Press team delivers a message to Israeli soldiers expected to board. 

In addition to the four Sumud sailors from Humboldt, there is at least one additional Second District constituent – Gabe Korty from Point Reyes – according to KQED.

A sixth Californian, Chad Ashby from Topanga (District Three), is also noted as a support person sailing with the GSF.  At this time, we have not confirmed the status of Korty or Ashby, as a result of today’s flotilla developments.

“They Must Do Their Duty”

Greg Terry’s partner, Tossa Hayward, released a statement directed to their California elected representatives, saying, “We are so proud of Greg for following his convictions even knowing the violence and impunity of the IOF.” [Instead of referring to the Israeli military by their designated moniker the “Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)”, many pro-Palestine activists prefer the modified acronym “IOF” which unofficially stands for “Israeli Offense Forces”.]

Adding, “We also want to express our frustration and disappointment with Representative Huffman and Senators Padilla and Schiff,” Hayward explained, “for neglecting to advocate publicly for the safe passage of the flotilla, despite our numerous calls for them to do so.”

“With the news that Greg has indeed been abducted by the IOF, we expect and demand that they do their duty as his representatives — to advocate for his release and to publicly condemn Israel for its illegal abduction of civilians,” Hayward stated in the official press release related to Humboldt constituents Terry and Beaver. 

However, Representative Huffman’s office just released in response to our questions this statement, 

Three of my constituents from the Spring 2026 Global Sumud Flotilla have reportedly been detained by the Israeli navy in international waters while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. I’m calling on Secretary Rubio and the State Department to ensure their safety and fair treatment. The U.S. has an obligation to protect Americans abroad, and my team and I are working to safely get them home.

Families and supporters of the detained residents are asking the public to contact Rep. Huffman and Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff directly, urging them to advocate for the safe return of their constituents and to uphold international and maritime law protecting civilian humanitarian missions.

As the flotilla pressed on, livestreaming cameras aboard each vessel brought viewers onboard. 

The Global Sumud Flotilla initial statement following the most recent incursion on the humanitarian flotilla called the actions illegal, writing, “By intercepting the flotilla at a perimeter of 250 nautical miles today and in Cyprus’ SAR zone, the israeli regime continues to demonstrate a systematic disregard for international maritime law, freedom of navigation on the high seas, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).” 

Judy Beaver, the mother of Windfield and Silas Beaver, said she has been waiting for news about Silas’ whereabouts. She compared the Gaza flotilla effort to past struggles that “have been hard and long,” including “the revolutionary war, women’s suffrage, [and] a 10 yr effort for civil rights which included going up against power of the day… .” She said, “Doing nothing is what allows evil to be powerful.” Then she said that the Flotilla action is “worth it and those willing to put themselves on the line are brave and selfless and deserve our honor.”

To follow the remaining Flotilla boats, the real time tracker and live footage shows which ships are remaining, and where they are along the route to Gaza. You can also view additional SOS videos by other Flotilla Participants. 

EARLIER:

• ‘Abducted’ in International Waters: North Coast Native Sailing to Gaza on Veteran’s Flotilla is Intercepted
• [UPDATE 1:36 a.m.: Turkish News Interviews the Freed Local Man] Waves of Resistance: North Coast Flotilla Activist is Released by Israel’s Military
• Four from Humboldt Set Sail on Largest Civilian Flotilla in History Bound for Gaza
• Humboldt Flotilla Activist Detained and Released by Israel, Three Others Remain with Global Sumud Flotilla