After Israel stopped the Global Sumud Flotilla and arrested hundreds of activists, more of the released activists have made further revelations about the harsh and inhumane treatment they faced at the hands of Israeli forces and prison authorities during their detention.
Upon arriving in Rome, Italian activist Cesare Tofani said that they were subjected to very bad treatment. After being detained by the army, they were handed over to the police, where they were harassed. Similarly, Yassine Lofram, president of the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy, said that they were threatened at gunpoint — behavior that is not befitting of any democratic country.
According to Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi, medicines were withheld and the activists were treated like monkeys. He said that Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela, and several members of the European Parliament were subjected to humiliation and ridicule.
Another journalist, Lorenzo De Agostino, said that their money and belongings were confiscated, dogs were released to scare them, and soldiers pointed weapon laser sights at the detainees to intimidate them.
Italian activist Paolo De Montis said that they were kept tied inside prisoner vans for hours, forced to kneel, and beaten on the head if they tried to raise their faces.
Malaysian singers Heliza Helmi and Hazwani Helmi also described their bitter experiences, saying that prisoners were forced to drink toilet water; many fell ill, but Israeli authorities said, “Unless they die, it’s not our problem.”
Heliza said they were given nothing to eat for three days and had to survive only by drinking toilet water.
The activists further claimed that Greta Thunberg was dragged on the ground, forced to kiss the Israeli flag, and used for propaganda purposes.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry called these statements baseless lies, while far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir admitted that he was proud of the harsh treatment of the activists. He also accused them of being accomplices of terrorists.
