Following numerous organizers’ claims of maltreatment, sexual assault, and beatings while in detention, Israel has accused the Gaza flotilla protestors of fabricating their injuries.
The ‘miraculous ‘healing’ of the flotilla participants’ was mocked in a tweet from the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s official X account, suggesting that activists fabricated their injuries for the cameras.
It comes after a flotilla of volunteers attempting to deliver aid supplies to the Gaza Strip was stopped last Tuesday by Israeli soldiers, who detained 430 individuals on board 50 ships in international waters.
At least fifteen people claimed they were sexually assaulted while in Israeli custody, and several activists were admitted to hospitals with injuries.
The accusations have been refuted by Israel’s jail service.
While a legal source in Italy stated that authorities were looking into potential crimes like kidnapping and sexual assault, Germany claimed that some of its citizens had been hurt and that some charges were “serious.”
“The allegations raised are false and entirely without factual basis,” an Israeli prison service spokesperson said in a statement in response to abuse claims, adding to the pressure on Israeli authorities to explain the treatment of the detainees following an international outcry over a video of hard-right Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir making fun of some of the activists in a prison.
Following numerous organizers’ claims of maltreatment, sexual assault, and beatings while in detention, Israel has accused the Gaza flotilla protestors of fabricating their injuries.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has made fun of the activists’ “miraculous” recoveries in a number of tweets.
Speaking at a press conference upon their arrival at Sydney International Airport on May 25, members of a flotilla headed for Gaza who were arrested by Israeli security authorities last week
The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused German activist Nesrin Zeaiter of fabricating her injuries to garner media attention in a single tweet that included three pictures of the activist.
She can be seen “standing healthy in Israel,” “lying down with a neck brace,” and “healthy again in Germany” in three different photos.
The collage’s title is “The miracle of the flotilla participants.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry posted the identical image of Zeaiter in a stretcher beside another image of her grinning and clutching flowers at Hannover Airport in Langenhagen, saying, “It’s a miracle!” in another derisive post. The ministry remarked, “Thank God, the flotilla anarchist recovered completely quickly.”
The Global Sumud Flotilla responded to the tweets by claiming that Zeaiter had “experienced a concussion and over 40 bruises” while in jail and that wearing a neck brace is “standard precautionary protocol for suspected cervical injury.”
“Medical care is provided according to professional medical judgment and in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines,” an Israeli prison service spokesperson stated. “All prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law, with full regard for their basic rights and under the supervision of professional and trained prison staff.”
Australian activist and documentary filmmaker Juliet Lamont told Reuters on Monday that she was beaten, sexually abused, and dragged while in custody. “That was just the beginning of four days of absolute hell,” Lamont said. I have gazed into the eyes of the most soulless individuals on the planet, and nothing has returned. Lamont stated, “We must stop these people.”
Sam Woripa Watson, another Australian activist, reported that he had scratches and bruises all over his body in addition to a shattered rib.
Watson added that he has seen activists shot with rubber bullets, tasered, and subjected to stun grenades.
In a video interview, Spanish activist Mi Hoa Lee claimed she was coerced into the ship’s darkened container.
She pointed to her ribs, hips, and back where she claimed the taser was administered. “Four men started beating me in the face against the wall, and I fell down and then stood up again, again to the floor, stood up again, and they started tasering me for more than one minute,” she said.
“After that, they continued to beat me until I nearly lost my conscience,” she continued.
Italian activist Ilaria Mancosu told Reuters that the flotilla members were taken off their boats and placed on two “prison ships.”
According to her, those who were placed on one ship experienced more violence than those on the other. They were thrashed by five troops while imprisoned in a container, resulting in fractures to their arms and ribs.
According to her, others received severe taser-related damage to their ears and eyes.
Mancosu stated that they were stripped of most of their clothing, had no blankets, and spent two days aboard the prison ships without running water, using cardboard and plastic to stay warm at night.
She claimed that after landing, they were forced to kneel for several hours and that whenever they moved or spoke, they were shoved and kicked.
After that, they were brought to a prison, where they were periodically transferred from room to room to prevent them from falling asleep, she continued.
After being jailed in Israel, the Gaza flotilla activists’ return to Spain turned into turmoil on Saturday as Basque police attacked them with batons.
According to a statement from the Basque regional police force, the Ertzaintza, four people were detained for significant disobedience, resisting arrest, and assaulting law enforcement officials.
Relatives respond to the Ertzaintza members’ arrest of multiple activists at the airport in Bilbao
After being jailed in Israel, the Gaza flotilla activists’ return to Spain deteriorated into turmoil on Saturday when they were beaten with batons by Basque police.
The incident happened when supporters gathered at Bilbao Airport’s arrivals hall to greet six campaigners who had just landed on a plane from Turkey.
There were altercations between the two groups after a police officer violently stopped a relative of one of the campaigners from approaching them.
Pictures from the airport showed police using batons to strike people and pinning others to the ground while onlookers jeered.
Prior to this, authorities attempted to relocate the protestors who seemed to have blocked the exit for other travelers.
According to a statement from the Basque regional police force, the Ertzaintza, four people were taken into custody for major disobedience, resisting arrest, and attacking law enforcement.
“Following what happened at the airport, the Ertzaintza internal affairs division has launched an investigation to determine whether the officers’ conduct complied with procedures,” the statement continued. Two of those detained were activists who had recently arrived from Turkey.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Embassy in Spain mockingly asked the Spanish government to provide a “explanation” for what had happened at the airport in Bilbao.
Following the event, over 2,000 demonstrators flocked to Bilbao’s streets on Sunday to denounce the way the Basque police handled the activists.
Hard-right Israeli minister Ben-Gvir shared a video of himself making fun of demonstrators when they were restrained in a jail last week.
In one video, a prisoner with his hands bound is shown conversing with Ben-Gvir, who repeatedly utters the phrase “Am Israel Chai.”
It comes after Israeli minister Ben-Gvir uploaded a video of himself making fun of demonstrators as they were pinned to the ground in a prison, prompting outrage from a number of Western governments, including Spain.
Last Wednesday, Ben-Gvir uploaded the video to his X account, captioning it, “That’s how we welcome the terror supporters.” Greetings from Israel.
In the video, activists from the Gaza flotilla are shown being violently subdued by masked officers who pull them across the floor, shove them down, and force them onto all fours.
Then, while the minister raises an Israeli flag and yells, the inmates are seen lined up inside a warehouse, zip-tied, and kneeling with their faces pressed to the ground:
“Welcome to Israel.” “We’re the landlords,” and then “Well done.” You do things that way.
Penny Wong, an Australian foreign minister, called the video “shocking and unacceptable.”
Ben-Gvir was subject to financial sanctions and a travel ban by Australia last year for encouraging violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot prohibited Ben-Gvir from visiting France in reaction to the video. “As of today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory,” he said in a statement on X.His abhorrent behavior toward French and European nationals who were traveling aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla led to this decision.It is unacceptable for French citizens to be threatened, harassed, or brutalized in this manner, especially by a public authority.
Antonio Tajani, the foreign minister of Italy, stated that he was in communication with every member of the European Union “so that there may be a quick decision to impose sanctions” on Ben-Gvir.
The “unacceptable” treatment of the protestors was denounced by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a statement on X. “It is inadmissible that these demonstrators, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates human dignity,” Meloni wrote.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly denounced the video, saying that “the way minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel’s values and norms.” Netanyahu declared, “I have given the relevant authorities instructions to deport the provocateurs (activists) as soon as possible.”
