Some of the activists report “abuse and abuse” by prison guards and claim to have suffered “physical violence”
Lawyers representing the Global Sumud Flotilla activists in Israel reported that many of them are not receiving vital medical treatment, warning that the detainees are patients with cancer, heart disease and hypertension.
“Until yesterday [sábado]they were denied medical treatment and medicines they needed, including essential recipes ”for various diseases, such as hypertension, heart disease and cancer, explained the group of lawyers Adalah, in a statement released today.
Lawyers were able to visit more than 80 activists and attend hearings held at the KTZI’OT prison at the heart of the Negev desert in Israel, and reported disabilities in the supply of essential goods such as water and food.
According to lawyers, “some activists have not received any food” since their detention in international waters, between October 1 and 2.
“They are being kept in overcrowded cells and some had to sleep on the floor in unhealthy conditions,” the group explained.
According to the defenders, some of the activists were questioned by unidentified individuals and others reported “abuse and abuse” by the prison guards. In addition, others claimed to have suffered “physical violence” and at least one of them suffered injuries to their hands.
The activists were also blindfolded and spent long handcuffed periods. A woman was forced to remove ‘hijab’ and received only one ‘t-shirt’ as a replacement, and others reported that she was prevented from praying.
In addition, at least 87 of the activists were unable to have access to legal counseling and others were not allowed to contact their families by telephone.
All of these circumstances constitute “serious abuse” that represent “clear violations of their rights before international law” and which have been “documented” by Adalah, as well as the “mistreatment” that attribute to the military and police that “illegally” the flotilla ships in international waters intercepted.
Between October 1 and 2, which transported humanitarian aid and about 500 activists from dozens of countries seeking to reach the Gaza Strip, despite the blockade imposed by Israel.
The ships were intercepted in international waters and taken to the Port of Ashdod, Israel, where they were prosecuted for illegal entry in the country. Some of the activists have already been deported to their home countries after signing a statement recognizing that they illegally entered Israel.
The four Portuguese who participated in the Global Sumud flotilha, detained since Thursday in Israel,
