Israel Detains Gaza-Bound Flotilla Activists, Canadian Says He Was Beaten for Days

Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and detained hundreds of activists in international waters, and a Canadian activist released from Israeli custody said he was beaten, abused for days and stabbed in the hand by a prison guard.

Ehab Lotayef, an activist and IT manager at McGill University, said on CBC that "They took us one by one in a dark room and they started beating us," describing ribs in pain and bruises after the detention.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Lotayef said the vessel had a makeshift prison constructed of barbed wire and metal shipping containers, and he said he was instructed to hand out water before another soldier slashed his hand with a knife.

CBC reported that Israel's prison service denied any abuse allegations in relation to flotilla activists detainment this week, and it cited the prison service denial that reports of mistreatment are "without factual basis."

The BBC said seven flotilla activists detained in Israel arrived back in the UK after being deported, and it reported that they told the BBC they witnessed people being "systematically tortured and abused over two days" on Israeli vessels and in prison.

The BBC also reported that the Israeli military rejected similar allegations and said its orders "require respectful and appropriate treatment of flotilla participants."

BBC

Katy Davidson, 49, from Cornwall, told the BBC that "These marks are from the handcuffs," adding that when she asked them to loosen the cuffs they "didn't care" and "laughed."

Documentary film maker Dáša Raimanová, 44, told the BBC that what she faced was "nothing compared to the people of Palestine," while Elliott Roberts, 34, claimed his vessel was fired at and said he now thinks he has a broken spine.

The BBC reported that the flotilla's organisers alleged there were "at least 15 cases of sexual assaults," while other people who were detained said they were beaten and mistreated, and it said it could not independently verify the allegations.

As activists returned from detention, Canadian officials and lawmakers tied the flotilla abuse allegations to calls for accountability, with CBC reporting that Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand called on Israeli officials responsible for "appalling abuse" of Canadian activists to be held accountable.

“WARNING: This article contains details of sexual abuse”

CBC

Anand said on CBC, "Canada unequivocally condemns the grave mistreatment of Canadians in Israel," and CBC reported that Canadians met with consular officials after arriving in Istanbul and were undergoing medical checks.

The BBC reported that the Global Sumud Flotilla aimed to break the maritime blockade of Gaza and deliver food and medical aid, and it said more than 50 boats set sail from Turkey last Thursday carrying a token amount of aid.

The BBC said Israel's government dismissed the action as a "PR stunt" serving Hamas and ordered commandos to board the boats west of Cyprus on Monday and Tuesday, while the BBC reported that the detained activists were taken to an Israeli prison after arriving at the port of Ashdod.

In parallel, Haaretz reported that Israel's Foreign Ministry summoned Spain's chargé d'affaires in Tel Aviv on Sunday over what it called "serious" conduct by Spanish police, while criticizing Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez and his ministers for not condemning the conduct of Spanish police nearly 24 hours after officers were allegedly seen using force against flotilla participants.