'Got bruises all over' — Activists speak of torture after Israel abducted them from Gaza aid boats

Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla comfort each other upon their arrival at Istanbul Airport. (Photo/AP)

Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, who were abducted by Israel in international waters, have said the violence and mistreatment they experienced at the hands of Israeli soldiers could not be compared to what Palestinians endure.

The activists, who were brought to Istanbul Airport aboard three Turkish Airlines flights after being raided and detained by Israel in international waters, spoke to Anadolu Agency about their experiences during detention.

Canadian activist Ehab Lotayef showed his bandaged hand while recounting the Israeli attack on boats.

Lotayef said one Israeli soldier had asked him for help with translation, while another soldier "did not like" that he was assisting others.

"But one Israeli soldier didn't like that I was giving water to people. So, he came and stabbed me in my hand," Lotayef said.

He said he had lost sensation in the wounded hand and added that activists were subjected to severe violence, with some suffering broken ribs.

"We were beaten real bad, real, real bad. It wasn't beating as self-defence. It was beating as punishment. They were punishing us," he said.

In the Israeli custody, notorious minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on social media showing himself taunting the pro-Palestine activists, who were zip-tied and forced to kneel after being detained by Israeli forces in international waters.

The video sparked global outrage.

Across Europe, governments summoned Israeli ambassadors to condemn the video. Italy demanded an apology, Spain said it would not tolerate maltreatment of its citizens, and France demanded the release of all the detainees.

The US envoy to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said Ben-Gvir had "betrayed (the) dignity of his nation".

"Look at them now. See how they look now, not heroes and not anything," Ben-Gvir says in the video as he walks by the activists while carrying a large Israeli flag.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads the most extremist regime in Israel's history, said Ben-Gvir's conduct was "not in line with Israel's values and norms".

But Ben Gvir appeared as defiant as ever, calling the images "a great source of pride".

'They treat animals better'

Bilal Kitay, a Turkish national, held his wife in his arms.

This was his second trip with the "Flotilla for Gaza", on board a boat with about 10 other activists.

He insisted that the Israeli attack on boats was "much, much more violent than the previous one" in April.

"They attacked us," he said. "Each of us was beaten, women and men... It's what Palestinians experience all the time," he said, AFP news agency reported.

"Unfortunately, they treat their animals better. They alone consider themselves human," he said. Kitay is also planning to leave on the next convoy.

'Attention needs to turn to Palestine'

Another Canadian activist, Michael France from Vancouver, said he joined the mission as part of a humanitarian aid effort for Gaza.

"It's part of a humanitarian aid going to Gaza, where humanity is trying to do what humans do when there's a humanitarian crisis," France said.

France said he was held with around 160 people inside a shipping container on one of two boats converted into prison vessels.

"We were on these newly developed jail boats. There were two of them, 160 on mine. And it was three containers, shipping containers that we slept in. Bare metal floors," he said.

France said that Israeli forces used electroshock devices and flashbang grenades against abductees.

"We were welcomed by tasers. We had flashbangs every two or three hours through the night, waking us up," he said.

He said the wounds on his face and head were caused by repeated beatings and added that Israeli soldiers stomped on his bare feet with military boots.

"The number of times I was beaten into the ground with my head. Through my toes, I had no shoes, and people would stamp on them with their military feet," France said.

He added that he suffered bruises around both knees, where he had previously undergone surgery, as well as wounds across his body after being thrown around.

"I've got bruises all over. And that's just the handling," he said.

France stressed, however, that the mistreatment they endured could not be compared to the suffering of Palestinians.

"It's also important to say that we have nothing of the treatment that the people of Palestine do. And that’s why we are here, to try and do something about this crisis of humanity," he said.

He urged international attention to remain focused on Palestine.

"We are not heroes. We are humans trying to do a human act in a crisis," France said.

Italian journalist Alessandro Mantovani, one of several activists separated from the others and flown home earlier, said he had been beaten up on arrival in Israeli detention in what he described as a container, calling it as a "place of terror".

"'Beat you up' means they kicked me in the legs and punched me in the face. These are people who know what they are doing, so I don't have any major visible marks ... They would beat you up and would tell you 'Welcome to Israel'," he told reporters on arrival at Rome's Fiumicino airport.

Another Italian activist, Dario Carotenuto, a lawmaker from the 5-Star Movement, said he had been punched in the eye and kicked while detained by Israelis.

'My pain is little compared to theirs'

Hahona Ormsby, a Maori activist from New Zealand, said they were abducted during Israel's attack on their boat and later transferred to a vessel converted into a prison ship.

Ormsby said he was subjected to violence until the activists were brought to Ashdod Port, where they were held.

Ormsby reported being kicked in the private parts, tied to a chair, and punched, adding that a soldier threatened him during their time together.

He said he was assaulted despite remaining silent during the detention and suggested that his appearance and Indigenous tattoos may have played a role in the abuse.

"Because of the mission, because of my indigenous look. My tattoos are indigenous to my country, and he didn't like them," Ormsby said.

He added that wounds to his hands and lips were caused after he was slammed into a wall.

"From smashing me into the wall to knock me out," he said.

Ormsby said he was still in pain but emphasised that his suffering could not be compared to that of Palestinians in Gaza.

"It's been (since) last night, and today has been sore, but not as much pain as what our Palestinians in Gaza will be going through. So my pain is little compared to theirs," he said.

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Source: TRT