Gaza aid flotilla activists report beatings by Israeli forces; two taken to Israel
Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Dozens of activists on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla reported being severely beaten and injured by Israeli forces near Crete, with two reportedly taken to Israel for investigation.
- Greek officials stated 31 of the approximately 175 activists were hospitalized in Crete, while Turkish officials reported about 60 arrived in Istanbul.
- Israel's Foreign Ministry described the flotilla as a provocation aimed at distracting from Hamas's refusal to disarm, labeling the participants as 'professional provocateurs'.
A humanitarian aid flotilla attempting to break the blockade on Gaza has been intercepted by Israeli forces near Crete, resulting in allegations of severe beatings and injuries among the activists. This incident has sparked international concern, with several European governments urging Israel to release the detained activists.
All flotilla activists are now in Greece except for Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila.
According to Greek officials, 31 out of approximately 175 activists aboard the flotilla required hospitalization in Crete. Meanwhile, Turkish officials confirmed that around 60 activists arrived in Istanbul. Israel's Foreign Ministry, however, has characterized the flotilla as a "provocation" intended to divert attention from Hamas's alleged unwillingness to disarm, further labeling the participants as "professional provocateurs."
Two activists, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila, are reportedly being held in Israel for further investigation. Keshek is suspected of ties to a terrorist organization, while Avila is allegedly involved in "illegal activities." The Israeli ministry stated that all other flotilla activists are currently in Greece.
The flotilla is another provocation aimed at distracting from Hamas's refusal to disarm. The flotilla is used by 'professional provocateurs'.
The flotilla, comprising over 50 vessels departing from ports in France, Spain, and Italy, aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Organizers, Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), claim their equipment was destroyed during the interception, describing the Israeli intervention as a "deadly trap planned at sea." Activists from numerous countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Italy, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Germany, Hungary, Ukraine, France, Poland, and Portugal, were reportedly injured.
The interception caused them to face 'a deadly trap planned at sea'.
GSF also alleged that detained activists were mistreated aboard Israeli naval vessels for nearly 40 hours, being denied adequate food and water and forced to sleep on wet floors. Spain has specifically demanded the immediate release of Keshek, a Spanish citizen. The U.S. State Department, while calling the flotilla a "publicity stunt," stated that the ships should have been prevented from docking or receiving supplies, and is considering retaliatory measures against those supporting the flotilla.
The activists detained during the interception were also mistreated on Israeli naval ships for almost 40 hours.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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