Mandela’s Grandson Returns to South Africa After Deportation from Israel

The grandson of the late South African president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela arrived in Johannesburg on Wednesday after being detained and later deported by Israel. The incident disrupted a flotilla he was part of that was attempting to deliver aid to Gaza.

Mandela, who returned home along with four other South Africans, said he and his group were held in an Israeli prison for six days before being released via Jordan.

“We were handcuffed, our hands tied tightly behind our backs with cables, taken off our boats, made to sit on the platform, and paraded for everyone to see,” said the 51-year-old Mandela at the airport, where supporters waving Palestinian flags greeted him.

“But this is nothing compared to what Palestinians experience every single day,” he added, referring to Israel’s ongoing military offensive against Hamas, launched after the deadly attacks carried out by the Palestinian group two years ago.

Israel has dismissed reports of widespread hunger in Gaza as exaggerated and described the flotilla as a publicity stunt meant to benefit Hamas. It has also denied allegations of mistreatment of those detained, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.