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Some of the activists detained while trying to scope Gaza by oversea person returned to their location countries to picture mistreatment astatine the hands of Israeli guards, claims that Israel denies.
Some 450 activists were arrested arsenic Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of 42 boats seeking to interruption Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and present a symbolic magnitude of assistance to the famine-stricken territory. Those detained betwixt Wednesday and Friday were brought to Israel, where galore stay successful prison.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it offered voluntary deportation to each of the activists and those that stay successful detention chose to stay there successful bid to spell done a ineligible deportation process.
On his instrumentality astatine Rome’s Fiumicino Airport precocious Saturday, Italian writer Saverio Tommasi said Israeli soldiers withheld medicines and treated prisoners “like monkeys.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said the claims of mistreatment were “brazen lies.”
Among those detained were Swedish activistic Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela and respective European lawmakers.
Tommasi said Thunberg was singled retired by Israeli forces aft being arrested.
“We besides saw Greta Thunberg astatine the port, successful that lawsuit with her arms tied and an Israeli emblem adjacent to her, conscionable a mockery,” helium said. “Let’s accidental the mockery was portion of the verbal and intelligence violence they ever carried out, successful bid to demean, ridicule and laughter successful situations where there is thing to laughter about.”
In a statement connected κοινωνικά media, the ministry said each detainees’ ineligible rights had been “fully upheld,” adding that Thunberg had not complained astir the “ludicrous and baseless allegations – due to the fact that they ne'er occurred.”
The interception of the flotilla came arsenic US President Donald Trump attempted to broker a caller ceasefire inaugural successful Gaza, arsenic helium ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza. Israel said it had accepted Trump’s proposal, and Hamas has said it accepts some aspects. Negotiators are expected successful Cairo connected Monday.
Another Italian journalist, Lorenzo D’Agostino, said detainees were repeatedly woken during the two nights helium spent down bars. They were besides intimidated with dogs and by soldiers pointing the laser sights of their guns astatine prisoners “to scare us,” helium said aft landing astatine Istanbul Airport, where 137 activists from 13 countries arrived from Israel connected Saturday.
D’Agostino added that his belongings and wealth had been “stolen by the Israelis.”
Activist Paolo De Montis described being crammed into a situation van for hours with his hands secured by zip ties.
“Constant stress and humiliation,” helium said. “You weren’t allowed to look them successful the face, ever had to support your caput down and when I did look up, a antheral … came and shook maine and slapped maine connected the backmost of the head. They forced us to stay connected our knees for 4 hours.”
Ben-Gvir ‘proud’ of treatment
In a statement, far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said helium was “proud” of the way staff behaved astatine Ketziot prison, a installation successful the Negev desert.
“I was arrogant that we treat the ‘flotilla activists’ arsenic supporters of terrorism. Anyone who supports terrorism is simply a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists,” helium said.
“If immoderate of them thought they would travel present and person a reddish carpet and trumpets – they were mistaken. They should get a bully consciousness for the conditions successful Ketziot situation and think twice earlier they attack Israel again.”
Greece, which had 27 of its nationals successful Israeli custody, issued a “strong written protest” to Israel implicit the “unacceptable and inappropriate behaviour of an Israeli minister.” The arrests besides led to disapproval from respective governments including Turkey, Colombia and Pakistan.
The ailment is thought to notation to footage of Ben-Gvir upbraiding the activists for supporting “terrorism” and mocking their assistance inaugural aft they were brought ashore astatine the southern larboard of Ashdod connected Friday.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry said it had “acted intensively to guarantee that the detained Swedes’ rights are observed.”
The interception of the flotilla besides led to large-scale demonstrations successful cities crossed the world. [AP]
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