Gaza Flotilla Activists' Testimony: Tortured and Humiliated by Israeli Forces
Humanitarian activists involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla mission have given alarming testimonies about a planned campaign of violence carried out by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). After being deported to Istanbul, volunteers reported instances of torture, sexual harassment, and the arbitrary use of non-lethal weapons.
Zack Schofield, an activist from Newcastle, Australia, said he witnessed a fellow activist—a woman from Ireland—being beaten to the ground after she was filmed shouting ‘Free Palestine’ in the presence of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
‘Hands and feet were bound with cable ties, and she was dragged around the processing centre before being put onto a prison bus,’ Schofield said. He added that the violence by guards was inconsistent and depended on the mood of the officers on duty.
Of the 428 flotilla members detained, eleven were Australian. Juliet Lamont, an Australian filmmaker, gave a traumatising account, saying she was subjected to sexual assault and beatings by Israeli soldiers.
Lamont reported that on the prison ship, soldiers beat about 180 people. This left at least 40 with broken bones. Some other activists were tasered and forcibly given sedatives.
Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, rejected all the allegations and claimed that the activists were treated with high sensitivity. He told the ABC that none of the more than 400 flotilla participants was injured.
However, this statement stands in stark contrast to what others on the ground report. The flotilla coordinator said all Australian activists required first aid after release. Three needed hospital treatment in Turkey. Photos circulating also show activists with bruises and torn skin.
Criticism also followed after Itamar Ben Gvir posted a video mocking activists kneeling and bound. This action drew a rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Ben-Gvir’s behaviour was not in line with Israel’s values.
Neve O’Connor, a Melbourne student, testified that soldiers slammed her head into a table and pulled her earrings with tongs. ‘This is a physical reminder that although we are being abused, it pales in comparison to what Palestinians endure every day,’ she said.
Despite the brutality, Zack Schofield emphasised that the activists’ spirit grew stronger. ‘Every activist in this flotilla, whether they choose to return or not, their hearts are bolder after witnessing and experiencing the brutality of the Israeli state,’ he said.
(The Guardian) sources: This report draws on testimonies from multiple activists and observers involved in Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0, some of which have been published by The Guardian and other outlets. Aimed at condemning the Israeli troop’s intercept and detention of activists en route to Gaza, the flotilla’s coordinators report widespread abuse while being held by Israeli authorities.
Ratusan aktivis Global Sumud Flotilla yang dideportasi ke Istanbul melaporkan penyiksaan, pelecehan seksual, dan tindakan sadis selama ditahan otoritas Israel.
Indonesian Deputy Speaker Sukamta of the PKS faction welcomed the release of Indonesian nationals who joined Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0; they had previously been detained by Israel.
Foreign Minister Sugiono confirmed that nine Indonesian nationals among the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 mission have arrived safely in Istanbul, Turkey, after being detained by Israel.
Nine Indonesian volunteers of Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 arrived in Istanbul, Turkey and underwent health checks, visa procedures, and testimony collection before being repatriated to Indonesia.
Ratusan aktivis Global Sumud Flotilla yang dideportasi ke Istanbul melaporkan penyiksaan, pelecehan seksual, dan tindakan sadis selama ditahan otoritas Israel.
Activists Julien Cabral and Bilal Kitay reveal the brutal violence of Israeli forces when intercepting the aid ship Flotilla to Gaza.
Benedetta Scuderi, an Italian member of the European Parliament, says she experienced violence and detention by Israeli forces while taking part in the humanitarian mission to Gaza.