"I was beaten by Israeli police," says European MEP Rima Hassan after Sumud Flotilla detention
French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, of Palestinian origin, said she was beaten by 'Israeli' police after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza.
Speaking to Agence France-Presse at Athens International Airport on Monday, where she arrived alongside other deported activists including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Hassan said, “I was beaten while being put into a police car by two Israeli officers.” Wearing gray prison garments similar to those worn by Thunberg, she added, “We have a lot to reveal,” condemning the treatment they received and affirming that “some of us were beaten.”
Hassan did not provide further details about the alleged assault, stating only, “Sometimes there were 13 to 15 of us in a single cell, not on beds but on mats on the floor… in the high-security Israeli prison in the Negev. We lacked everything.” Thunberg, speaking from Athens, also denounced “mistreatment and abuses” during her detention but did not go into specifics.
Earlier on Monday, 'Israel' announced the deportation of 171 activists who had been on the Global Freedom Flotilla, which attempted to break the blockade of Gaza. The flotilla, consisting of more than 40 ships and boats, had set sail last month carrying international activists and humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territory, where 'Israeli' naval forces unlawfully intercepted the flotilla, detaining more than 400 people on board and beginning deportations on Friday.
'Israel' claimed the vessels had entered a restricted area. Initially stating that no aid was found on the boats, the 'Israeli' Ministry of Foreign Affairs later said on X that it had located “no more than two tons distributed across 42 vessels,” representing “less than one-tenth of a single aid truckload.”
According to 'Israeli' police, over 470 people were detained from the flotilla, with the first deportations starting on October 2. The ministry confirmed to AFP that 138 activists remain in 'Israeli' custody.
