COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio University professor who was detained last week while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza returned home to Columbus on Sunday after being held in an Israeli prison.
Tom Hayes, a documentary filmmaker, was among 145 people on a Freedom Flotilla Coalition mission carrying aid to Gaza.
"There are substantial personal risks involved," Hayes said.
The ship Hayes was on included media members and medical professionals.
"We had $110,000 worth of medical aid, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the need, but we also had physicians who could step in on the spot if we could just make it in," Hayes said.
The ship was intercepted by Israeli military forces after approximately one week at sea.
"The alarm went off about 4 a.m. and I said 'They're here.