Dozens of Spanish activists detained by Israel after attempting to reach Gaza aboard the Global Sumud flotilla have arrived back in Istanbul alleging they were subjected to ‘degrading treatment’ and violence while in custody.
Israel announced shortly before 3pm on Thursday that all foreign activists from the flotilla had been deported.
Around 90 minutes later, many of the nearly 430 activists from more than 40 countries – including 44 Spaniards – were seen disembarking planes in Istanbul.
The activists were transported by Turkish Airlines on three separate flights and arrived wearing grey tracksuits after Israeli authorities allegedly confiscated their personal belongings.
Many were also wearing kufiyas, the traditional Palestinian scarf.
Footage shared on X appeared to show Spaniards with signs of torture on their backs, while others were seen limping and in hospital beds.
Several participants accused Israeli authorities of mistreatment after being detained at sea while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
‘I can’t feel my hands, they hit me in the ribs many times,’ one American activist told reporters upon arriving in Turkey.
‘There are around 10,000 Palestinians in those prisons. If they did this to us, imagine what they are doing to them.’
He further alleged that detainees had been placed in what he described as ‘torture chambers’ after being intercepted in the Mediterranean.
Another activist claimed Israel had violated international law by detaining the flotilla in international waters and said participants had been subjected to ‘degrading treatment’ while in custody.
The controversy intensified after footage emerged allegedly showing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visiting the port of Ashdod, where the activists were being held.
The video appeared to show detainees handcuffed, kneeling on the ground and crowded together while the minister waved an Israeli flag and smiled in front of them.
One Norwegian activist condemned the footage upon arrival in Istanbul, claiming it demonstrated ‘the attitude of people who believe it is acceptable to treat others in an inhumane way’.
However, he also stressed that many Israelis were fighting for ‘a more dignified Israel’.
The flotilla operation had been organised as part of an international campaign aimed at breaking the blockade on Gaza and delivering humanitarian assistance to Palestinians amid the ongoing war in the region.
