Australian activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza have claimed they were subject to abuse and beatings, which left some hospitalised. Israel’s prison service denies the allegations.
Eleven Australians were among the 430 volunteers on 50 boats intercepted in international waters last week by Israeli forces, aiming to stop the flotilla delivering aid supplies to the Gaza strip.
Juliet Lamont, an Australian activist and documentary filmmaker, told Reuters on Monday that she was dragged, sexually assaulted and beaten while in custody.
"That was just the beginning of four days of absolute hell. I've looked into the eyes of the most soulless people in the universe, and nothing came back. These people need to be stopped," Lamont said.
Sam Woripa Watson, another Australian activist, said he sustained a fractured rib along with bruises and cuts across his body while detained. Watson also said he had also witnessed activists being tasered and shot with rubber bullets, with stun grenades thrown at them.
The allegations of mistreatment follow similar reports from European activists involved in the flotilla who returned home last week.
Global Sumud Flotilla, the organisers of the aid shipment, said it had documented at least 15 cases of sexual abuse, with the worst occurring on one Israeli landing craft which had been converted into a makeshift prison with barbed wire and shipping containers.
"Four men started beating me in the face against the wall, and I fell down and then stood up again, again to the floor, stood up again, and they started tasering me for more than one minute," she said, pointing to her ribcage, hips and back where she said they applied the taser.
Ilaria Mancosu, an Italian activist, told Reuters the flotilla members were removed from their boats to two so-called prison ships. Those put on one of the ships suffered more violence than the other, she said. They were locked in a container and beaten by five soldiers, suffering fractures to the ribs and arms.
Germany said last week that some of its citizens had been injured and a legal source in Italy said prosecutors were investigating crimes including kidnapping and sexual assault.
A spokesperson for the Israeli prison service said the allegations were entirely false.
"All prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law, with full regard for their basic rights and under the supervision of professional and trained prison staff," the spokesperson said.
Medical care is provided according to professional medical judgment and in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines,” they added.
The allegations of mistreatment have increased international pressure on Israel, following a video posted by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in which he taunted activists restrained on the ground, sparking widespread condemnation.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the footage as "shocking and unacceptable."
Following the release of the video, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he was in touch with all his EU counterparts "so that there may be a quick decision to impose sanctions" on Ben-Gvir.
France placed Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on a travel ban on Saturday, over his treatment of Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel after the footage was released by him.
Australia had earlier imposed a travel ban and financial sanctions on Ben-Gvir last year for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
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