An insider whose partner joined the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), an aid mission bound for Gaza, condemned Israel for intercepting the flotilla and expressed deep anguish over her detention. In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), James Murua, the partner of Zukiswa Wanner -- one of the crew members on a flotilla ship intercepted by Israel -- condemned Israel's actions and described his distress upon learning that his partner had been detained. Murua said Wanner joined the mission to provide much-needed aid to the people of Gaza, but despite their best efforts, the operation was ultimately made impossible. "There are two million people in Gaza who are basically starving to death. Everybody is trying to do anything that they can do to try to help them, give them relief. And people like Zukiswa, who applied to be on the flotilla -- she did what she could, and she thought, maybe I can help, I can join the flotilla, lend my voice, because people are dying there. We want people to know, we want the conscience of the world to see. We did our best, and it's not because we didn't do our best -- it's because there are other forces that were in play," Murua said. Murua recalled the moment he learnt Wanner might have been detained, describing it as extremely tough. "I basically broke down because I know, I've been following what the Israelis are doing to anybody who stands in the way of their mission to make sure that Palestine is no longer existing. So I remember that I actually broke down and started crying. It was really tough for me, especially that time when I realized that they were taken over," he added. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday that the Israeli navy has completed taking over the GSF. The GSF, comprising some 50 vessels with over 500 volunteers from more than 40 countries, aimed to challenge Israel's naval blockade and deliver food and medical aid to Palestinians. Israel has maintained a naval blockade on Gaza since 2007, following Hamas' takeover of the enclave. Restrictions were further tightened after the conflict between Hamas and Israel broke out in October 2023. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 66,288, with 169,165 others injured since the conflict broke out, Gaza's health authorities said in a statement on Friday. The video shows: Gaza Strip - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Aerial shot of tents 2. Various of tents, debris, displaced Palestinians Lagos, Nigeria - Oct 3, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 3. SOUNDBITE (English) James Murua, husband of Zukiswa Wanner, crew member, flotilla ship (ending with shots 4-5): "There are two million people in Gaza who are basically starving to death. Everybody is trying to do anything that they can do to try to help them, give them relief. And people like Zukiswa, who applied to be on the flotilla -- she did what she could, and she thought, maybe I can help, I can join the flotilla, lend my voice, because people are dying there. We want people to know, we want the conscience of the world to see. We did our best, and it's not because we didn't do our best -- it's because there are other forces that were in play." Gaza Strip - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 4. Various of displaced Palestinians waiting in line at aid distribution site, relief workers distributing aid supplies 5. Various of displaced Palestinians walking, carrying flour bags 6. Various of tents on rubble, destroyed apartment buildings Gaza Strip - Sept 25, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 7. Various of tents in camp; residents Lagos, Nigeria - Oct 3, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 8. SOUNDBITE (English) James Murua, partner of Zukiswa Wanner, crew member, flotilla ship (starting with shots 6-7): "I basically broke down because I know, I've been following what the Israelis are doing to anybody who stands in the way of their mission to make sure that Palestine is no longer existing. So I remember that I actually broke down and started crying. It was really tough for me, especially that time when I realized that they were taken over." Tel Aviv, Israel - June 2021 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 9. National flags of Israel Israel - Nov 1, 2022 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 10. Israeli Parliament Knesset Tel Aviv, Israel - April 7-8, 2019 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 11. City view [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]