Youssef In timethe head of the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza, relayed testimonies from Global Flotilla activists on Friday Go ahead (Global Go ahead Flotilla) who suffered violations from Israel during their detention, following the interception of their humanitarian mission to Gaza.
Some activists who were able to testify confirmed that a number of participants had been subjected to “sexual violence, in addition to being beaten, dragged, handcuffed and blindfolded”, declared In time à Anatolia.
He added that “Israeli violations included sexual assault and harassment” as well as beatings, calling what happened a “gross violation of human dignity.”
“These violations reveal the true nature of the Israeli entity, its criminality and brutality, as well as the extent of its danger to the region and to the world,” he said.
Referring to what he described as “the weak international response to the incident,” In time stressed: “We were shocked by the lack of widespread reaction and condemnation, particularly from the European Union, regarding what the Zionist entity has done. HAS”
He added that “imposing sanctions on Israel has become a necessity as it escalates its violations in the absence of accountability.”
In time also described Israeli actions as “a continuation of the violations” that Tel Aviv “commits in Gaza against international law and international institutions.”
Israel “displays its practices with complete impunity, in the absence of serious international action,” he also affirmed, wondering: “If these activists of non-Arab and non-Muslim nationalities were subjected to these violations, what is the situation of the population of Gaza and the West Bank busy? HAS”
He insisted that “the danger posed by this entity is immense.”
Youssef In time called for the release of the two activists still in detention, the Brazilian national Thiago Avila and the Spanish-Swedish national Saif Abu Kesheknoting that “Israeli authorities have continued to detain and interrogate them for several days.”
He also demanded “protection for the ships that have set sail and those that will later sail to the Gaza Strip, as well as guarantees that they will not be attacked or subjected to acts of piracy in international waters, nor even in the territorial waters of certain European countries.”
The Spring 2026 mission of the Global Flotilla Go aheadwhich aimed to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid there, was intercepted by Israeli forces on April 29 off the coast of Crete.
Israeli forces intervened in international waters, attacking ships carrying militants about 600 nautical miles from Gaza and just a few miles from Greek territorial waters.
In total, 177 activists were arrested and allegedly suffered ill-treatment.
According to various reports, Avila and Abu Keshekwho have not been released since being forcibly taken to Israel, were reportedly subjected to serious physical violence and death threats during their interrogations.
Israel has imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, leaving the territory’s 2.4 million residents on the brink of famine.
The Israeli army launched a brutal offensive on Gaza in October 2023, which has now lasted two years, killing more than 72,000 people, injuring more than 172,000 others and causing massive destruction across the besieged territory.
*Translated from English by Mariem recognizes
