Humanitarian volunteers who were recently released from Israeli detention have made serious allegations of mistreatment while in custody, according to organizers who spoke out on Friday. The activists were among 430 individuals arrested on Tuesday when Israeli forces intercepted 50 vessels attempting to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza in international waters.
Reuters has not been able to independently confirm these allegations at this time.
Israeli prison officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding these accusations on Friday, which is a holiday in Israel. When contacted, the Israeli military directed inquiries to the Foreign Ministry, which then referred questions back to the prison service.
On Thursday, the prison service had 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.”
“Medical care is provided according to professional medical judgment and in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines,” the statement continued.
These new allegations are expected to intensify scrutiny of Israeli authorities regarding how the detainees were treated, particularly following international condemnation of a video showing an Israeli cabinet minister mocking some of the activists in prison. Italy has indicated that European Union members are considering sanctions against the minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.
“At least 15 cases of sexual assaults, including rape. Shot with rubber bullets at close range. Tens of people’s bones broken,” organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla wrote on the Telegram messaging platform.
“While the world’s eye is trained on the suffering of our participants, we cannot emphasize enough that this is a mere glimpse of the brutality Israel imposes daily on Palestinian hostages.”
Luca Poggi, an Italian economist who was among those detained on the flotilla, described his experience upon arriving in Rome: “We were stripped, thrown to the ground, kicked. Many of us were tasered, some were sexually assaulted, and some were denied access to a lawyer.”
Sabrina Charik, who coordinated the return of 37 French citizens from the flotilla, reported that five French participants required hospitalization in Turkey, with some suffering broken ribs or fractured vertebrae. She noted that some individuals have provided detailed accounts of sexual violence, including rape.
In a social media post verified by Reuters, French national Adrien Jouen displayed bruises covering his back and forearms.
According to activists, some of the alleged mistreatment occurred at sea following their interception by Israeli naval forces, while other incidents reportedly happened after their arrest and imprisonment in Israel.
Volunteers from multiple European nations were scheduled to return home on flights from Turkey after being deported from Israel on Thursday.
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares informed reporters that 44 Spanish flotilla participants were expected to arrive on Friday via flights from Istanbul to Madrid and Barcelona. He noted that four of them had received medical treatment for injuries.
Western governments expressed outrage on Thursday after Ben-Gvir shared a video of himself taunting activists who were restrained on the ground in a prison facility.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said during the NATO meeting in Sweden that he was coordinating with all his EU colleagues “so that there may be a quick decision to impose sanctions” on Ben-Gvir.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had proposed sanctions against Ben-Gvir and another Israeli minister last year, but the proposal failed to receive the required unanimous support from all 27 EU member countries.
“EU sanctions are discussed and adopted by the 27 EU Member States and this is in unanimity,” EU foreign policy spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said during the European Commission’s daily press briefing on Friday, noting that he could not discuss confidential sanctions deliberations.
