A San Francisco mother, along a growing chorus of Democratic lawmakers, is calling on the Israeli government to release her son from custody.
Sydney Hollar’s son, Logan Hollarsmith, was among the hundreds of people recently detained by the Israeli Navy while trying to sail to Gaza as part of what they said was an international aid flotilla.
Hollarsmith was the captain of the Ohwayla, the boat boarded by Israeli military Thursday.
According to social media posts by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the detainees were sent to Ktzi’ot prison in southern Israel. The Israeli Foreign Minister has described the members of the flotilla as terrorists.
The Israeli Consulate in San Francisco states any details on specific detainees may be delayed because of a Jewish holiday in Israel.
Hollar says the US Embassy in Jerusalem told her by phone her son could be deported out of Israel in the next 24 hours; however, she says she is concerned about the conditions her son and others are being held in. Hollar adds even when they are released, she is not sure where they will be sent and how they will make it home.
“The US Embassy may only know when they land in, I’m just making this up, say Turkey, they’ll get a call. Now, I’m not sure how they’ll get a call because everybody threw their phones overboard,” Hollar said.
Over the last 24 hours, there has been a growing Chorus of US lawmakers, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Rokhana, demanding action from the US Government.
They’ve signed on with 23 other California members of Congress, demanding the US State Department arrange the safe return of all the US citizens who are still in custody.