The fleet of about forty ships attempted to break through the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid.
The Israeli army stopped them and detained more than 450 people from various countries.
Two participants, Malaysian activist Hazwani Helmi and American Windfield Beaver, stated that during their detention they witnessed the mistreatment of Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
According to their statements, she was pushed by Israeli soldiers, forced to carry the Israeli flag, and abused for propaganda purposes. “It was a disaster. They treated us like animals,” said Helmi, who claims that those arrested were not provided with sufficient food, water, or medication.
The Times of Israel website noted that activist and journalist Ersin Çelik, who was deported from Israel on Saturday, confirmed that the activist “was forced to kiss the Israeli flag.”
Beaver added that Thunberg was pushed into a room during a visit by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is known for his right-wing rhetoric. “She was used as a propaganda tool,” she said.
Israel denied the allegations.
The statements were also confirmed by the Israeli group Adalah, which provides legal assistance to members of the flotilla. The Israelis are said to have denied some of those arrested access to water and medication, as well as toilets and contact with a lawyer.
“They were also forced to kneel with their hands tied for at least five hours after some participants chanted ‘Freedom for Palestine,’” the Adalah group said.
Israel rejected the allegations. “All of Adalah's claims are complete lies. Of course, all those arrested had access to water, food, and toilets, they were not denied access to legal counsel, and all their legal rights were fully respected,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman told Reuters news agency.
Italian MPs already home
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that 26 Italian citizens had already been deported, but 15 were still being held in Israeli detention centers. He called on the Israeli authorities to treat them with respect and in accordance with their rights.
A group of Italian MPs who had taken part in the flotilla also returned to Rome – according to their statements, they were “brutally arrested and taken hostage.”
The flotilla had set sail at the end of August as a symbolic protest against Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, which made it impossible to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. Israel condemned the mission as a ruse and claimed it was a “legal naval blockade” intended to prevent the smuggling of weapons to the militant Hamas movement.
(reuters, max)