Activists aboard the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla were subjected to humiliation, violence, and mistreatment after Israeli forces intercepted their convoy in international waters, according to an attorney representing several detainees.
Hadeel Abu Saleh, speaking outside the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court, said testimonies from activists described harsh treatment by Israeli authorities, including forcing female participants to remove their hijabs and keeping detainees in painful physical positions during custody.
She stated that several activists suffered injuries, including suspected rib damage, while videos shared online allegedly showed Israeli naval personnel firing rubber bullets at members of the flotilla.
Abu Saleh accused Israeli authorities of attempting to intimidate and punish humanitarian activists seeking to show solidarity with Palestinians and deliver aid to Gaza. She argued that such treatment mirrors methods previously reported against Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.
The legal proceedings involved activist Zohar Regev, who holds Israeli citizenship. Israeli police reportedly requested restrictions including banning Regev from entering Gaza for 140 days and requiring future questioning when summoned. The court later ordered her release while imposing a two-month Gaza entry ban instead of the stricter conditions requested by authorities.
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