South African activists who were detained when their boats were intercepted while trying to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza said Saturday they were beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers in a detention facility.
The Global Sumud Flotilla of 50 vessels was intercepted Monday in international waters some 250 miles (400 kilometers) off the coast of Israel as they sought to breach the blockade and deliver aid to Palestinians in Gaza. The activists said they were held for several days in Israel’s Ketziot prison where some said they were shocked with electricity while being interrogated about their participation in the flotilla.
The Israeli government has denied allegations of mistreatment of detained flotilla activists, saying they were “false and entirely without factual basis.” There was no immediate response to the activists’ accusations Saturday.
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Ebrahim Peters, left, an activist embraces his family member after returning home in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday. Credit: Themba Hadebe/AP
Ebrahim Peters, left, an activist embraces his family member after returning home in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday. Credit: Themba Hadebe/AP
They said many of them received harsh treatment, especially when the Israeli soldiers learned they were from South Africa, a country that has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice and accused it of committing genocide in Gaza.
“We were denied access to water for a while. Food they did give us, food that was not suitable for human consumption. We were denied access to toilets for many hours, and the minute we started protesting we were shot at with rubber bullets,” said activist Faizel Moosa.
Moosa, a former anti-apartheid activist during South Africa’s liberation struggle against white minority rule, said the treatment they received under detention was the worst he had ever experienced.
“Having experienced detention under the apartheid regime during the struggle, this was far worse. It just goes to show that this is what Palestinians go through on a daily basis,” said Moosa.