Italian Flotilla Captain Converts to Islam After Israeli Detention During Gaza Aid Mission

Italian activist Tommaso Bortolazzi, captain of the Maria Cristin vessel in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), embraced Islam while being detained by Israeli forces after the flotilla was intercepted in international waters en route to Gaza.

The flotilla, comprising around 44 vessels and hundreds of activists from several countries, had departed from Barcelona on August 30 with the aim of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. On Wednesday night, October 1, Israeli naval forces intercepted the ships and detained several participants, including Bortolazzi, later deporting some of them on Saturday, October 4.

After his release, the Italian captain spoke to reporters in Istanbul, recounting how his time in detention and the faith of his Turkish crewmates inspired him to convert to Islam. Videos shared online show him wearing a black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh, describing the moment he recited the Shahada — the Islamic declaration of faith.

“I Felt the Need to Stand With Them”

“My company was from Turkey and almost all were Muslims. While they were praying, Israeli police entered and stopped them. I felt the need to oppose that, and afterwards, with my friend, I recited the Shahada,” he told Anadolu Agency.

Before reciting the Shahada, Bortolazzi reportedly asked whether “God would accept him as a Muslim because he had tattoos.” His Turkish companion Bakir Devili reassured him that faith rests on belief, not appearance, and helped him through the declaration.

Devili said Bortolazzi embraced Islam while being transported in a prison vehicle. “He repeated the Shahada in the prison vehicle and became a Muslim. When everyone congratulated him, the Israeli police threw him into a cell,” Devili recalled.

“I told him, ‘Tommy, you started paying the price for your Islam in the tenth second of your conversion,’” he added.

Bortolazzi described his conversion as a profound moment of clarity and peace, saying, “It felt like being born again.” He expressed solidarity with Palestinians and gratitude toward his fellow detainees who stood by him in prison.

The Flotilla and Israel’s Crackdown

The Global Sumud Flotilla was part of a larger international effort to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza and deliver essential medical supplies, food, and relief materials. Organised by activists from more than 20 countries, including Turkey, Ireland, Italy, and the United States, the convoy symbolised global defiance against the siege that has strangled Gaza’s economy and humanitarian access.

When Israeli naval forces intercepted the flotilla, they allegedly used water cannons, damaged communication equipment, and detained dozens of activists, including women and journalists. The organisers called the interception “a violation of international law,” insisting that their mission was purely humanitarian.

Global Wave of Conversions Inspired by Gaza

Bortolazzi’s conversion comes amid a growing number of people around the world embracing Islam, inspired by Palestinians’ resilience and faith in the face of adversity.

In November 2023, American activist and TikToker Megan Rice accepted Islam after studying the Quran and following the events in Gaza. The following month, around 30 women in Melbourne, Australia, also embraced Islam at the Meadow Heights Mosque, moved by the steadfast faith of Palestinians enduring Israel’s assault.

Israel’s Ongoing War on Gaza

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 67,100 civilians, the majority of them women and children, and displaced millions. Entire neighbourhoods have been destroyed as aid agencies continue to warn of famine and a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.