Activist recounts hunger strike and torture during Israeli detention

TANGERANG, KOMPAS.com — Indonesian humanitarian activist Hendro Prasetyo, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla II mission, joined fellow activists in a hunger strike despite Israeli soldiers providing bread and water.

Hendro stated the activists could not verify the safety of the food and drink offered. ‘I couldn’t endure the dehydration, so I drank from the tap,’ he said.

When detainees were transferred to an Israeli warship and placed in container-style prison cells, water was supplied in a single jug for dozens of people. ‘We drank tap water, and even when given a jug, it was shared among 30 people,’ Hendro explained.

The detention began when drones circled the vessel carrying the Global Sumud Flotilla II contingent. Activists halted all access on the ship, fearing for their safety. ‘We put on life jackets and disposed of communication devices to prevent Israel from exploiting them,’ Hendro recounted.

Israeli soldiers later arrived via speedboats to move the activists to a tanker, then to a main vessel with container prisons. ‘That’s when the specific torture began in an extremely dark container. Alhamdulillah, I could still see three large Israeli soldiers armed with long weapons,’ Hendro said.

The weapons had electric shock tips. Inside the dark prison, activists were beaten and kicked. When most detainees did not respond to the beatings, Israeli soldiers resorted to using the electric weapons.