Paris , May 23(SANA) French activists who participated in the ” Sumud Flotilla” bound for Gaza and were later detained by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean before being deported to Türkiye have reported experiencing “violence” and “humiliation” at the hands of Israeli occupation forces during their arrest.
According to Agence France-Presse, eight French nationals arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport from Türkiye on Friday afternoon, greeted by supporters chanting “Long live the struggle of the Palestinian people.”
Speaking to journalists at the airport, the returnees said that two of the 36 French citizens who had been aboard the flotilla remain hospitalized in Türkiye.
“They placed us one by one in a black container, and I was subjected to unwanted physical contact.” Mariam Hadjal, an activist detained on May 18 who arrived in Paris earlier Friday, told reporters.
Hadjal, a care worker, added that in Ashdod, southern Israel, “we were dealt with by police who were extremely violent, humiliating, and stripped us of our humanity.”
Two days earlier, Israeli “National Security Minister” Itamar Ben-Gvir had released a video showing the detained activists kneeling with their hands bound, sparking widespread condemnation and sharp diplomatic reactions.
Activist Yasmine Scuola said they slept with their hands cuffed behind their backs and were forced to use the bathroom while still in handcuffs. “This is, in fact, a serious form of torture,” she said, noting that she saw injured individuals left without medical care.
Israeli occupation forces detained hundreds of activists from multiple countries after intercepting their vessels during the latest attempt to break the siege on the Palestinian territory.
IZ/MZ
