A Toronto woman detained by Israeli forces after participating in a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza has been released and is currently in Turkey awaiting her return to Canada.
Mskwaasin Agnew, a 33-year-old Cree and Dene harm reduction worker from Parkdale, was aboard one of nine vessels carrying humanitarian aid from Italy to Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC). The flotilla was intercepted by the Israeli navy on Tuesday. Agnew was among approximately 150 activists — including five other Canadians — detained at Ketziot Prison.
After roughly 30 hours in custody, Agnew and two other Canadians were freed and taken to Turkey, her lawyers confirmed. In a pre-recorded video message anticipating her arrest, Agnew urged supporters to pressure the Canadian government to impose sanctions and a two-way arms embargo on Israel and to demand the release of detainees.
Brianna Pitawanakwat, Agnew’s close friend and colleague at Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction, watched the interception unfold live via a livestream. “We saw heavily armed Israeli navy boarding the ships, smashing the surveillance cameras. Seeing it happen live was pretty awful,” she said, adding that Agnew had undergone extensive safety training in preparation for the risks involved.
The vessel Agnew joined, The Conscience, carried thousands of dollars’ worth of Toronto-donated medical supplies, including baby formula, antibiotics, and splints, aimed at supporting civilians under Israel’s blockade. Pitawanakwat said Agnew participated out of frustration with what she saw as Canada’s inaction in protecting Gaza’s population.
“She said there’s nothing heroic about what she’s doing — just an everyday person who decided they’d had enough and wanted to step up,” Pitawanakwat explained. Agnew’s decision was also influenced by the Assembly of First Nations’ December 2024 resolution, which called for a permanent ceasefire and recognized Palestinians as Indigenous people.
The incident has galvanized activists in Toronto. On Thursday, eight people were arrested after protesters occupied Liberal MP Karim Bardeesy’s Bloor Street office, demanding federal intervention. At a rally the previous day, local NDP MPP Alexa Gilmour expressed solidarity with Agnew.
“Seeing someone from my own community taking this extraordinary risk calls all of us to examine our conscience and ask the question: are we doing enough to stop the genocide?” Gilmour said. She has also urged the Ontario government to expand refugee supports for Palestinians, including waiving OHIP waiting periods and increasing access to trauma-informed medical care.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, over 67,000 people — including more than 20,000 children — have been killed since Israel’s military invasion began following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. Several international bodies, including Amnesty International and the UN Commission of Inquiry, have described the conflict as genocide.
Agnew’s return to Canada is expected in the coming days.