AP: Global Sumud flotilla activists allege mistreatment in Israeli detainment

Some of the 450 activists detained while attempting to reach Gaza by sea have returned home alleging mistreatment by Israeli guards — claims Israel has dismissed as “brazen lies.”

Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of 42 boats seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and deliver aid to the famine-stricken enclave. Those arrested between October 1-3 were taken to Israel, where many remain in detention, Caliber.Az reports via The Associated Press.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said all detainees were offered voluntary deportation and that those still in custody “chose to stay there in order to go through a legal deportation process.”

At Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi accused Israeli soldiers of withholding medicines and treating prisoners “like monkeys.” He said Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, also among the detainees, was “singled out” by Israeli forces. 

“We also saw Greta Thunberg at the port, in that case with her arms tied and an Israeli flag next to her, just a mockery,” he said. “Let’s say the mockery was part of the verbal and psychological violence they always carried out, in order to demean, ridicule and laugh in situations where there is nothing to laugh about.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations, saying detainees’ legal rights had been “fully upheld” and that Thunberg “had not complained about the ludicrous and baseless allegations — because they never occurred.”

Italian journalist Lorenzo D’Agostino, who spent two nights in custody, said detainees were repeatedly woken, intimidated with dogs, and threatened with gun laser sights. He also claimed his belongings and money were “stolen by the Israelis.” Another activist, Paolo De Montis, described being “crammed into a prison van for hours with his hands secured by zip ties,” adding: “Constant stress and humiliation … They forced us to stay on our knees for four hours.”

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended the treatment, saying he was “proud” of staff at Ketziot prison. 

“Anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists,” he said.

By Sabina Mammadli