UPDATE: Cathedral City woman aboard Gaza aid boat captured again by Israeli Naval Forces
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) - Geraldine Ramirez, a Cathedral City woman News Channel 3 first followed in October, is said to have been captured once again by Israeli Naval Forces, while trying to deliver aid to Gaza.
News Channel 3 first spoke with Ramirez's family last year, when she was captured on the boat. She was released from custody, but her family says she stayed in the area to continue her advocacy.
Since then, Ramirez has continued her work with the Global Sumud Flotilla, despite warnings from U.S. officials and the boats' interception.
Her father, Victor Ramirez, says he was on the phone with Geraldine while the boat was most recently intercepted.
"At the moment that they were being captured, she reached out to me and said, 'father, we are surrounded by the army of Israel.' I don't know what bad things are going to happen to us," Ramirez said.
It comes as two flotilla leaders were captured, and allege they were beat by Israeli forces. Ramirez appears alongside them in the photos, showing bruises.
"She told me that they had been mistreated, that two of the leaders had disappeared, that they didn't know what had happened to them, where they had taken them, and that they had also beaten them. She sent me photos where she has her bruises and everything," her father said.
Victor claims his daughter fears coming back to the U.S. due to retaliation for her activism.
News Channel 3 reached out to federal and local officials who have discouraged travel to the area in the past.
The U.S. State Department lists the Israel/West Bank/Gaza area at a level 3 travel advisory, to 'reconsider travel.' Gaza specifically, is labeled under 'do not travel.'
While officials were unable to share more information before our deadline, a State Department official said in October, "We take our commitment to U.S. citizens seriously and are monitoring the situation. The flotilla is a deliberate provocation.”
Stay tuned for continuing coverage on this story.
