Activists from the Global Sumud aid flotilla, who attempted to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip for the third time, have accused the Israeli military and prison service of abuse following their detention. Approximately 430 people were detained during the operation, including a group of French activists who described a violent and humiliating ordeal after being deported and returning to Paris.
Organizers of the flotilla allege that the detainees were subjected to severe violence, including beatings and being shot with rubber bullets at close range. Reports indicate that tens of people suffered broken bones, with several individuals requiring hospitalization. Most gravely, at least 15 activists have reported sexual assaults, including rape.
The Israeli prison service has strongly denied these claims of abuse. However, rights groups assert that Israeli detention centers have become torture camps for Palestinians, where violence, extreme hunger, and humiliation have been normalized. This environment is attributed to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has publicly celebrated cruelty and established a template of televised abuse.