Israel Forcibly Takes Activists from the Fleet to Ashdod: Tied, Tormented, and Humiliated.. Italy Protests

SadaNews - Israeli forces forcibly took activists of the Freedom and Resilience Fleet to Ashdod port in southern Israel after intercepting their boats in international waters while they were on their way to break the blockade imposed on Gaza and provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

Filmed footage documented the Israeli forces mistreating the activists who were handcuffed and lying on the ground, forcing them to listen to the "Hatikvah" anthem, alongside the visit of the extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who provocatively and theatrically insulted them with derogatory terms.

During his provocative visit to the Ashdod port while "boasting" and pointing at the activists during their humiliation, Ben Gvir urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to keep the activists imprisoned for a long time.

The Global Resilience Fleet, which set sail from Turkey last week, is the third initiative in a year aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade on Gaza, which has been suffering from severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel since the outbreak of the Israeli genocide war on October 7, 2023.

Israel began intercepting the fleet on Monday off the coast of Cyprus. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated, "Another public relations fleet has reached its end. All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli ships."

Italy Summons Israeli Ambassador, Calls Treatment of Activists "Unacceptable"

The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Italy announced that the Israeli ambassador would be summoned to demand official explanations regarding the mistreatment of Freedom Fleet activists.

It described Israel's treatment of the fleet activists as "unacceptable" and requested an apology from Israel in this context.

"Assaults and Humiliation and Systematic Incitement Against Fleet Activists"

The "Adalah" rights center reported that a video posted by Ben Gvir from Ashdod port showed elements from the Israeli prison and military services assaulting and humiliating activists from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and the Global Resilience Fleet (GSF). Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev also posted a video repeatedly describing the activists as "supporters of terrorism" and claiming they were "under the influence of alcohol." In another video, several activists appeared on their knees, with their hands tied behind their backs and faces towards the ground, while the Israeli national anthem played in the background.

In response, it was stated, "Following the illegal interception of the fleet in international waters and the illegal kidnapping of more than 400 activists from around the world, Israel pursues a systematic policy based on humiliation and abuse of activists and supporters who seek to confront Israel's ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people and break the illegal blockade imposed on Gaza."

It noted that "these recordings come as an extension of what the Adalah Center has previously documented regarding similar patterns of mistreatment and violations against participants in previous flotilla missions, without Israeli authorities facing any accountability." For hours, a team of lawyers from "Adalah," alongside a team of volunteers, entered the port facilities, currently providing legal consultations to the detainees and will continue to work to ensure their rights and demand their immediate and unconditional release. The "Adalah" Center also calls upon the international community to take urgent and immediate steps to protect the participants in the flotilla from this brutal and illegal behavior of Israeli officials and authorities," according to its statement.

The "Adalah" rights center stated in a statement, "Following the Israeli army's interception of the ships of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and the Global Resilience Fleet (GSF) in international waters, dozens of participants from both flotillas, including international supporters, human rights defenders, medical crews, and journalists, were forcibly taken to Ashdod port."

It pointed out that the detention constitutes a serious violation of international law and represents an extension of Israel's policies of collective punishment and starvation against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The "Global Resilience Fleet" announced on Monday morning that Israeli forces boarded about fifty of its boats.

In a later post on the "X" platform, it stated, "The Israeli occupation illegally and violently intercepted our international fleet of humanitarian boats and kidnapped our volunteers," demanding the "swift release of the activists and the end of the blockade on Gaza."

Calls and Condemnation

For its part, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Foreign Ministry stated that nine Indonesian citizens were part of the fleet "and all were reported detained by Israel."

Ben Gvir and activists from the fleet are shown handcuffed and lying on the ground.

Indonesia called on Israel to immediately release all ships and crew members, adding that "all diplomatic channels and consular procedures will continue to be fully utilized." The Indonesian newspaper "Republika" had previously reported that two of its journalists were among the nine detained Indonesians.

Both Turkey and Spain condemned the interception operation. The organizers stated that the fleet also included 15 Irish citizens, including Margaret Connolly, the sister of President Katherine Connolly.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on Wednesday that Israel had arrested South Korean citizens in international waters, describing this action as a "gross violation of borders." He mentioned in a cabinet meeting that Israel detained the citizens for reasons not based on international law and questioned whether such actions could be allowed to pass without protest.