Tucsonan captaining Gaza-aid flotilla boat detained in Israel

Hollarsmith’s mother, Sidney Hollar, and friend, TC Tolbert, described Hollarsmith as a community builder deeply committed to people. A carpenter by trade, Hollarsmith uses his skills to assist the Tucson community, Tolbert said.

“He just moves through the world with so much generosity,” Tolbert said. “He also, in his free time will go around and literally contribute everywhere. On the reservation, for No More Deaths, for the Outlaw Project,” referring to a local organization that tries to prevent border-crossers from dying in Arizona’s deserts and another that helps secure housing for trans women of color.

Above all, they said he is humble, and not one for the limelight.

“He wants the story to be about the starving of the people in Gaza,” his mother said.

Hollarsmith and the other activists with the Global Sumud Flotilla were overtaken in international waters while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, including baby formula, food and medical supplies.

Only one boat appears to have crossed the 12-nautical-mile line marking territorial waters off Gaza, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

The flotilla of 40 boats, carrying around 500 activists, was the latest attempt to establish a humanitarian corridor to facilitate the flow of aid into Gaza.

“Their goal was to break the siege and open up a corridor so that the rest of the world can come in and bring food and medical equipment and medicine and everything else to the people that are starving in Gaza,” said Hollar, Hollarsmith’s mother. “He didn’t say this, but I think it had to be a goal to provide education to the world. Because now the world is watching.”

In mid-August, when applications opened for positions on the Global Sumud Flotilla, Hollarsmith, who is an accomplished international sailor, was quick to apply.

“One of the things that I remember we’ve talked about many times is the power of individuals to come together and do what governments should be doing,” Tolbert said. “I know that that was really powerful to him.”

Al Jazeera reported that out of 26,000 applications, Hollarsmith was chosen to embark on the humanitarian mission. The fleet set sail in late August.

As the flotilla boats neared Gaza on Wednesday afternoon, the Israeli navy warned them to turn back. When the boats continued on, the military personnel stormed the vessels and seized activists, including Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson and several European lawmakers, according to the Associated Press.

The Israeli action has sparked condemnation from world leaders and human rights groups who say Israel violated international maritime law.

The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulates that a nation’s territory does not extend beyond 12 nautical miles from its shores, though authorities may exercise control up to 24 nautical miles from land to prevent violation of customs, immigration, fiscal or sanitary laws, the AP reported.

Robbie Sabel, an international law expert and former legal adviser to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, told the Associated Press that states generally don’t have the right to seize ships in international waters, though there are exceptions, including during armed conflict.

Israel said it was enforcing a legal naval blockade of Gaza and characterized the Global Sumud Flotilla as a “provocation.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended the military for stopping the boats from entering a “war zone,” according to media reports.

The Associated Press reported that Israeli and European government officials had offered alternatives for the flotilla to transfer its aid to the Palestinian territory, which the activists rejected, citing Israel’s tight control over all aid entering Gaza. The activists maintain that their non-violent, civilian mission is lawful.

Hollar said her son and the other flotilla activists are being detained in Ashdod, Israel, and she said it’s likely they’ll be put in prison until potentially Oct. 7, after which she expects most will be voluntarily deported.

“They’ve been detained, but you know what, I would like to say they have been illegally arrested and kidnapped. They were in international waters. They were delivering humanitarian aid,” said Hollar, who is a criminal defense lawyer. “They had a completely legal reason to be there. What Israel has done is just unfathomable, right? And the videos are shocking of them boarding these boats, and (the activists) are non-violent. They had practiced since Day One what to do if they were intercepted. The videos show them all with their hands up. They’re not making any furtive movements, they’re following directions, it’s peaceful.”

Hollarsmith’s family and friends are encouraging the public to contact their congressional representatives and the U.S. Embassies in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

“I’ve been encouraging people to call them,” Hollar said. “To have their representatives and their senators pressure the State Department to pressure Israel to release them. Now.”

Despite her concern, Hollar said she is proud of her son and his effort to make a difference for a cause he cares about.

“I’m just really proud of him,” she said. “I think he’s a good example of how to be.”