ROME (AP) — A few of the activists detained whereas making an attempt to succeed in Gaza by sea have returned to their house nations to explain abuse and humiliation by the hands of Israeli guards.
Some 450 activists had been arrested as Israeli forces intercepted the International Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of 42 boats searching for to interrupt Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and ship a symbolic quantity of support to the famine-stricken territory. These detained between Wednesday and Friday had been dropped at Israel, the place many stay in jail.
Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi stated Israeli troopers withheld medicines and handled prisoners “like monkeys.”
“This is called torture. It’s called torture, a denial of human rights, even the most basic ones,” he stated on his return at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport late Saturday.
“They took away everyone’s medicine: people with heart disease, asthma, even an 86-year-old man… they took away his inhaler.”
Amongst these detained had been Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela and several other European lawmakers.
Tommasi stated Thunberg was singled out by Israeli forces after being arrested.
“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 stated. “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.”
The inteception of the flotilla got here as U.S. President Donald Trump was showing to be brokering a recent peace initiative in Gaza, together with a proposed ceasefire, as he ordered Israel to cease bombing Gaza.
One other Italian journalist, Lorenzo D’Agostino, stated detainees had been repeatedly woken throughout the two nights he spent behind bars. They had been additionally intimidated with canine and by troopers pointing the laser sights of their weapons at prisoners “to scare us.”
“Overall, I felt I was being held by a terrorist organization,” he stated after touchdown at Istanbul Airport, the place 137 activists from 13 nations arrived from Israel on Saturday.
D’Agostino added that his belongings and cash had been “stolen by the Israelis.”
Activist Paolo De Montis described being crammed into a jail van for hours along with his fingers secured by zip ties.
“Constant stress and humiliation,” he stated. “You weren’t allowed to look them in the face, always had to keep your head down and when I did look up, a man … came and shook me and slapped me on the back of the head.”
In an announcement, Israeli Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated he was “proud” of the best way employees behaved at Ketziot jail, a facility within the Negev desert.
“I was proud that we treat the ‘flotilla activists’ as supporters of terrorism. Anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists,” he stated.
“If any of them thought they would come here and receive a red carpet and trumpets — they were mistaken. They should get a good feel for the conditions in Ketziot prison and think twice before they approach Israel again.”
Israel’s Overseas Ministry, in the meantime, stated the claims of mistreatment had been “brazen lies.”
In an announcement on social media, the ministry stated all detainees’ authorized rights had been “fully upheld,” including that Thunberg had not complained in regards to the “ludicrous and baseless allegations — because they never occurred.”
The arrests led to criticism from a number of governments together with Turkey, Colombia and Pakistan. Greece, which had 27 of its nationals in Israeli custody, issued a “strong written protest” to Israel over the “unacceptable and inappropriate behavior of an Israeli minister.”
The grievance is assumed to consult with footage of Ben-Gvir upbraiding the activists for supporting “terrorism” and mocking their support initiative after they had been introduced ashore on the southern port of Ashdod on Friday.
The Swedish Overseas Ministry stated it had “acted intensively to ensure that the detained Swedes’ rights are observed.”
The interception of the flotilla additionally led to large-scale demonstrations in cities internationally.
Wilks reported from Istanbul. Related Press writers Natalie Melzer in Tel Aviv, Israel, Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, Stefanie Dazio in Berlin and Khalil Hamra in Istanbul contributed.
Comply with AP’s conflict protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
