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Gaza flotilla activists treated ‘like monkeys’ by Israeli forces after abduction
Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi says Israeli soldiers withheld medicines and treated activists “like monkeys” after they were abducted from vessels that were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
About 450 activists were detained as Israeli forces intercepted the fleet of 42 boats, and most of those remain in Israeli prison.
Another Italian journalist, Lorenzo D’Agostino, said the activists were repeatedly woken up during the two nights he spent behind bars. They were also intimidated with dogs and by soldiers pointing the laser sights of their guns at them “to scare us”, he said.
D’Agostino added that his belongings and money had been “stolen by the Israelis”.
‘Drank from the toilet’: Malaysian flotilla activists recount detention
Malaysian singers-actors Heliza Helmi and Hazwani Helmi, who took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla mission to deliver aid to Gaza, have described “brutal” and “cruel” treatment by Israeli forces after their vessel was attacked.
A plane carrying activists from the aid flotilla, who were attacked and detained by Israel in international waters, landed on Saturday at Istanbul Airport. As many as 137 people from the humanitarian flotilla, including 36 Turkish and 23 Malaysian citizens, were deported on the flight.
Speaking to the Anadolu news agency, the sisters recounted harsh conditions during their detention. “Can you imagine we drank from the toilet water? Some people were very, very sick, but they [the Israelis] said: ‘Are they dead? If not, then that’s not my problem,’” Hazwani Helmi said. “They are very, very cruel people.”
Heliza Helmi also described going without food for days. “I ate on October 1. Today is my first meal,” she said on Saturday. “So for three days, I did not eat – only drank from the toilet.”
Another 29 flotilla activists deported today, Israel says
Israel’s Foreign Ministry says the activists, who held Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch citizenship, were deported to Spain.
