US Congressman Ro Khanna and over 20 other California Democrats have urged President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to press Israel for the release of Americans detained after the Israeli attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters last week.
In a letter to Rubio, the lawmakers — including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — noted that 21 US citizens remain in Israeli custody, including Californians David Adler, Tommy Marcus, Geraldine Ramirez, and Logan Hollarsmith.
Adler, who serves as co-general coordinator of Progressive International, participated in the flotilla, which the lawmakers described as a non-violent mission delivering urgently needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
“We call on you to immediately do everything possible to secure the release of these US citizens and ensure their safe and fair treatment,” the letter read.
“This includes arranging logistics, such as a plane, to guarantee their swift return,” it added.
Israeli naval forces intercepted and seized flotilla vessels in international waters starting on Wednesday, detaining over 470 activists from more than 50 countries. The flotilla’s mission was to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge Israel’s long-standing blockade.
Israel has maintained the blockade of Gaza, home to nearly 2.4 million people, for almost 18 years.
Since October 2023, Israel has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. The ongoing bombardment has left the enclave nearly uninhabitable, causing widespread starvation and disease.
