Itamar Ben-Gvir Taunts Gaza Flotilla Detainees After Israeli Forces Abduct 430 Activists

Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters and abducted about 430 people on board 50 ships on Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera, and the activists were later shown in a video by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting detainees at an Israeli landing craft in Ashdod.

“Warning: This story contains details of sexual assault that some readers may find disturbing”

Al Jazeera

The CBC reported that Montreal activist Ehab Lotayef, an IT manager at McGill University, said he was beaten, abused for days and stabbed in the hand by a prison guard after being detained aboard the boat dubbed "Perseverance".

Al Jazeera

CBC said Lotayef described being forced to undress and hand over items before soldiers took control of the boat and transferred them to an Israeli naval vessel, where he said a makeshift prison was constructed of barbed wire and metal shipping containers.

Al Jazeera said the Global Sumud Flotilla organisers documented at least 15 cases of sexual abuse, including “humiliating strip searches, sexual taunting, groping and pulling of genitals, and multiple accounts of rape.”

In a statement, Israel’s prison service denied abuse allegations, saying reports of mistreatment are “without factual basis,” while CBC said Israel’s prison service denied any abuse allegations in relation to flotilla activists detainment this week.

The BBC said the activists alleged abuse while held in detention and that the flotilla organisers alleged there were "at least 15 cases of sexual assaults" while other people detained said they were beaten and mistreated.

The BBC also reported that Israel’s prison service dismissed the allegations as false, saying all detainees were "held in accordance with the law".

Anadolu Ajansi

CBC said Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand called on Israeli officials responsible for "appalling abuse" of Canadian activists to be held accountable, and it quoted her saying, "Canada unequivocally condemns the grave mistreatment of Canadians in Israel."

In the Guardian, Australian Zack Schofield said he watched as Israeli soldiers beat a fellow flotilla activist, an Irish woman, to the ground after she was filmed shouting “free Palestine” at Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The Guardian reported that the Israeli ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, rejected claims of violence and sexual abuse and told the ABC, "Out of the 400-plus people that were on the flotilla, no one was harmed," while Schofield described "There’s no consistency to the violence."

Al Jazeera said United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that those still being held “need to be released and sent home,” and he added that “people who were responsible for that treatment should be held to account.”

“Gaza flotilla activists allege abuse by Israeli forces while detained Pro-Palestinian activists who were deported after their Gaza-bound aid flotilla was intercepted in international waters by Israeli forces have alleged they were subjected to abuse while held in detention”

BBC

The BBC reported that after arriving in Istanbul, Germany and Spain confirmed injuries among their citizens, with a German foreign ministry spokesperson saying consular officials met German activists and that humane treatment of German nationals was an "absolute priority."

Al Jazeera also said a legal source in Italy told Reuters that prosecutors were investigating possible crimes including kidnapping and sexual assault, as activists returned to Italy and described what they said happened in custody.

Tempo.co reported that Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono condemned what it described as violence and mistreatment by Israel against volunteers, saying “Once again, the Indonesian government reaffirms its condemnation of the inhumane treatment experienced by the volunteers during their detention,” and it said nine Indonesian citizens arrived in Istanbul for medical examinations.

Anadolu Ajansı reported that Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor opened an investigation and that 51 activists with the most serious injuries were transported directly to hospitals by ambulance after the Turkish Foreign Ministry said 422 volunteers were evacuated, including 85 Turkish citizens and 337 nationals from 41 other countries.