"We were treated like animals": Flotilla activists recount ‘Israeli’ abuse
• 137 international activists arrive in Istanbul after 'Israeli' detention
• Survivors recount beatings, humiliation, and “inhuman” treatment during detention
Upon their arrival in Istanbul after being deported by 'Israeli' authorities, international activists from the “Global Sumud Flotilla” shared harrowing accounts of violence, humiliation, and what they described as “barbaric” treatment at the hands of 'Israeli' forces.
Several said they were “treated like animals” during the raid and subsequent detention.
A total of 137 activists from 13 countries landed in Istanbul on Saturday aboard a Turkish Airlines charter flight, following 'Israel’s' interception of the flotilla that was attempting to break the blockade on Gaza. More than 400 people were detained during the operation.
Italian journalist Lorenzo D’Agostino stressed that the interception was “a kidnapping,” asserting that it occurred in international waters, 88 kilometers off Gaza’s coast.
Accounts of violence and humiliation
Italian activist Paolo Romano said the flotilla was surrounded by numerous military vessels before armed personnel boarded and took control of their boats.
“They forced us to kneel with our faces to the ground,” Romano recalled. “If we moved, they beat us. They mocked us, insulted us, and struck us.”
Malaysian activist Ilia Balqis described the detention as “the worst experience” of her life. “We were handcuffed, denied water, and some of us were denied medication,” she said.
Their testimonies echo reports by The Guardian, which quoted Swedish activist Greta Thunberg telling Swedish officials she was held in a cell infested with bedbugs and provided with only limited food and water.
Activists also said that prison guards intentionally frightened them at night, depriving them of sleep.
Turkish condemnation and vows to continue
'Israel’s' foreign ministry confirmed the deportation of 137 activists, referring to them as “inciters.” In Istanbul, families and supporters greeted the returnees waving Turkish and Palestinian flags, chanting “Israel is a murderer.”
Turkey strongly condemned the interception. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the incident as “Israeli brutality,” while Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan praised the activists as “brave individuals.”
Despite what he called “inhuman” treatment, Libyan activist Malik Qutait vowed to continue his efforts: “I will gather my group, a ship, and I will try again.”
