Tribunal hearings were scheduled Thursday for activists from the Global Sumud Coalition mission, Adalah, the legal aid group representing the protesters, announced in a same-day update. By Thursday afternoon, 50 such hearings had taken place, and lawyers were able to visit several others, though 20 had not yet been able to meet with attorneys by press time, the legal aid group added.
Aboard the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens Flotilla were 145 participants, having sailed from Italy some two weeks earlier. Adalah noted that several activists, including parliamentarians from various countries, had already been deported by Thursday afternoon.
The fleet was intercepted by the Israeli Navy early Wednesday morning and diverted to Ashdod Port. Most were sent to the Ketziot Prison in the Negev.
Three of the activists who hold Israeli citizenship were taken for police interrogation. They were represented by Adalah attorneys at the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court, where police sought to extend their detention by seven days, but the court suggested they be released under restrictive conditions. These included a six-month ban on entering Gaza, a requirement to appear if summoned, and a conditional security deposit of NIS 4,000, Adalah added.
All three refused to sign for these conditions, and Adalah had said it was preparing to file an appeal.
40-Strong flotilla
When the 40-strong Sumud flotilla attempted to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip earlier this week, several activists alleged mistreatment by Israeli authorities.
These allegations continued on Thursday, with Adalah saying that “Some flotilla participants reported physical abuse, humiliation, and inhuman treatment during and after the interception, including being kicked, slapped, having their hair pulled, or being grabbed aggressively by soldiers.”
It added, “Some were forced into stressful positions, including being made to kneel for hours with their heads down and hands restrained behind their backs, or to sit on their knees for extended periods, in some cases while exposed to the sun. Some participants reported being mocked, insulted, and coerced into repeating degrading statements, including declarations of love for Israel or denigration of their own countries.”
Israeli authorities had not addressed the issue by press time.
Five activists from the Sumud flotilla remained in Israeli custody, and no update regarding their deportation had been issued by press time. Israel originally detained 429 people.
Gaza health authorities claim that about 67,000 people have been killed and the Palestinian enclave devastated by Israel’s war on Hamas, since the terrorist group launched and led the cross-border massacre on October 7, 2023, that left 1,200 people dead and 251 people kidnapped into Gaza. Hamas continues to hold 48 (of which only 20 are still alive) as a bargaining chip to demand the full withdrawal of the Israeli military from the enclave.
Documents found in Gaza and released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry trace direct Hamas involvement in organizing and financing the Sumud flotilla. Israel said the boats carried no aid and accused participants of seeking confrontation.
Israel and Egypt have maintained restrictions on Gaza to prevent weapons smuggling since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007. Since then, Palestinian activists have periodically launched flotillas to challenge the blockade. In 2011, an independent United Nations inquiry into the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident criticized Israeli forces for using excessive force but upheld the blockade’s legality.
Pesach Benson/TPS contributed to this report.