“We saw Hajar on the boat as it was happening and it’s one of those moments one should never have to see as a mother or a parent.”
These were the tearful words of Ottery resident Gadija Ahjum, describing her final communication with daughter Hajar Kagiso Al-Tha’irah Ahjum-Mathee.
She was among several South African delegates, and reportedly the only woman, aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea when it was intercepted by the Israeli navy.
The flotilla is a civilian-led humanitarian mission aimed at delivering aid, including baby formula and medical supplies, to Gaza in defiance of a blockade enforced by the navy.
Flotilla interception
Speaking to People’s Post about her 22-year-old University of the Western Cape (UWC) postgraduate student and activist daughter, Ahjum said the family watched events unfold live while speaking to her on the phone.
“We were reading prayers and the Qur’an with her as it was happening. She told us if communication suddenly went silent it would be because they had flung their phones overboard as per protocol.”
Ahjum said the family had been warned the night before that the flotilla was entering a high-risk area in international waters.
“We saw the live-stream of the interception. There were more than 50 boats approaching. Hajar showed us pictures as we were speaking to her.”
She said activism and solidarity with Palestine had always formed part of family life for the Ahjum-Mathees.
Hajar’s history
She also recalled how the family had often attended the annual Al Quds (Islamic name for Jerusalem) marches during Ramadaan since Hajar was a baby.
“My daughter comes from a family that has always been vocal when it comes to justice and the sacredness of human life and dignity. Myself and her father took our children to the marches in their prams. That’s how they grew up,” she said.
Over the years, Hajar’s activism intensified during her years at university, where she became deeply involved in humanitarian and solidarity campaigns, Gadija added.
“She says what she’s doing is the ‘bare minimum’. She has gone far beyond anything we have ever done,” she said.
Gadija said she initially had no idea her daughter had even applied to join the flotilla.
“It’s quite a rigorous process. They don’t just accept people randomly because of the nature of the mission,” she explained.
“When she eventually told me she had been accepted, I was shocked. It wasn’t made public for security reasons.”
Gadija described her daughter as fearless, energetic and compassionate.
“One of her lecturers described her as a ‘force of nature’. She’s only 22 but the impact she has had on people’s lives is incredible.”
Only woman among her crew
She added that Hajar was the only woman among seven South African delegates on the flotilla.
“She joked with me and said, ‘Mommie, I’m surrounded by all these daddies.’”
The family has not received direct communication from Hajar since the reported interception.
“It’s been incredibly frustrating getting updates. We haven’t heard anything from them,” Gadija said tearfully.
“We feel helpless. The best thing we can do now is amplify this story and put pressure on governments to act.”
The university has since voiced strong support for Ahjum-Mathee and the detained delegates.
UWC spokesperson Gasant Abarder confirmed that the university became aware of the flotilla incident on Monday 18 May.
“As you can imagine, it is rather difficult to make contact directly with the student at the moment,” said Abarder.
“There are academics on campus who are close to her and who continue providing updates.”
Activists unite
The university issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to human rights, dignity and global justice while calling for the safe release of all detained participants.
The Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice also publicly backed the UWC Palestinian Solidarity Association and called for the immediate release of Hajar and the other delegates.
Quoting Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the centre stated: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Recently, South African Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJFP) condemned the reported detention of the flotilla activists and called on the South African government to intervene.
The organisation described the delegates as unarmed civilians attempting to deliver life-saving aid to Gaza and demanded their immediate release.
Professor Kelly Gillespie from UWC’s Department of Anthropology described Ahjum-Mathee as “one of the most committed, principled and joyful students” she had worked with.
“Hajar feels solidarity with oppressed people very deeply and works hard to express that solidarity in tangible ways,” said Gillespie.
At the time of publication, there was still no confirmed information regarding Ahjum-Mathee’s whereabouts, while supporters, family members and civil society organisations continued calling for her safe release.
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