Greg Stoker arrived to a crowd of people, who praised his efforts to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.
AUSTIN, Texas — Editor’s note: This article was updated to add important context and remove allegations that were not independently verified by KVUE. The video accompanying the article was removed because it included allegations that were not independently verified by KVUE.
An Austin activist who was detained in Israel is back home in Austin.
Greg Stoker landed at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. He was among hundreds of activists who spent weeks sailing to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a group of more than 40 boats trying to break an Israeli blockade.
The Israeli military stopped dozens of those vessels last week and detained many of the people on board, saying the blockade is legal. Stoker was detained but was eventually flown out of Israel.
Stoker arrived home to a big crowd of onlookers eager to welcome him home. KVUE spoke with Stoker right after he greeted his loved ones.
Oct. 7 is also a day of remembrance in the Austin community and around the world because it is the anniversary of the attack by Hamas that put the region into the current conflict. At Temple Beth Shalom in northwest Austin, people gathered for a brief memorial service.
“The antisemitism that the Jewish community all around the world, also here in Austin, has experienced has been profoundly different since Oct. 7. And the day just holds a weight to it that I think is felt by every Jewish person in our community,” Rabbi Eleanor Steinman said.
Attendees also watched a film that discusses the rise of antisemitism since Hamas first attacked Israel.