Activists report beatings, chains, and sexual abuse after Israeli interception of Gaza flotilla

Disturbing accounts have emerged from activists participating in the Flotilla mission to Gaza, detailing alleged severe mistreatment, including beatings, being bound with chains, and sexual abuse, following the interception of their humanitarian vessels by Israeli forces. Italian activists, including Member of Parliament Dario Carotenuto and journalist Alessandro Mantovani, who were among the first to return to Italy, shared harrowing testimonies of their ordeal.

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We were beaten and they told us 'Welcome to Israel'.

Carotenuto described being subjected to brutal beatings by multiple assailants, recounting moments where he feared losing his sight. He spoke of being held in a "panic room" – a container where they were stripped, exposed to cold, and beaten. While he stated he was fortunate to escape with only bruises, others required medical attention for internal injuries. Both Carotenuto and Mantovani reported being stripped of their belongings, including wallets, and witnessing women being hit. They were reportedly treated as criminals, identified by numbers, and kept in handcuffs and chains until boarding their flights.

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They beat us savagely, three thugs. At one point, I thought I was going to lose my sight.

These testimonies align with reports from other released activists who described the port of Ashdod as resembling a "concentration camp" with containers and barbed wire. Activists recounted being beaten whenever they attempted to sit or look up. One activist, Antonella Bundu, reported that a young woman suffering from epilepsy had her head slammed to the ground twice. The activists were denied support from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their return tickets, with Minister Antonio Tajani stating that the state had provided assistance in every possible way.

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I got lucky and came out on my feet. Some, however, were taken to the infirmary with internal injuries.

The accounts paint a grim picture of the conditions faced by those attempting to deliver aid to Gaza, raising serious concerns about human rights violations and the treatment of humanitarian workers. The detailed descriptions of physical and psychological abuse underscore the harsh realities encountered by individuals engaged in such missions, highlighting the significant risks and challenges they face.

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They took my pants with my wallet and didn't give them back. Then we were beaten, I also saw women being hit.