Activists taking aid to Gaza accused Israeli soldiers of violence and sexual assault.
Some activists have had their ribs and arms broken, and have suffered serious injuries to their eyes and ears as a result of the use of electroshock weapons.
Participants in the flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza sector have stated that they faced torture, beatings, and sexual violence while in Israeli custody. Reuters reported this.
According to the organizers, at least 15 people have reported sexual assault, including cases of rape.
The Israel Prison Service denied all allegations. Reuters stated that it could not independently verify these claims.
It was reported that on Tuesday, Israeli forces detained 430 people on 50 ships attempting to bring aid to Gaza in international waters.
In a statement on Telegram, the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said that some activists were shot with rubber bullets at close range, dozens of people suffered broken bones, and were subjected to sexual assault.
"At least 15 cases of sexual assault, including rape, were recorded. People were shot with rubber bullets at close range. Dozens of people suffered broken bones," the statement said.
The organizers also emphasized that these incidents are part of the daily violence inflicted on Palestinian prisoners.
A spokesperson for the Israel Prison Service called the allegations "false and completely baseless."
"All prisoners are held in accordance with the law, ensuring their basic rights. Medical care is provided based on professional assessment and the guidelines of the Ministry of Health," the Israeli side's statement said.
Italian economist Luca Poggio told Reuters in an interview that the flotilla participants were stripped, thrown to the ground, and beaten.
"Most of us were subjected to electroshock, some were sexually assaulted, and some were not allowed to meet with a lawyer," he said.
According to Italian activist Ilaria Mankosu, those detained were taken to two "prison ships." Activists held on one of them faced more severe violence.
She said people were locked in containers and beaten by five soldiers. Some suffered broken ribs and arms, and serious eye and ear injuries resulted from the use of electroshock devices.
The activists stated they were held for two days on ships that did not meet sanitary requirements. They were deprived of most of their clothing and were forced to use cardboard and plastic to protect themselves from the cold at night.
According to Mankosu, after being brought ashore, they were forced to kneel for several hours, and those who spoke or moved were kicked and shoved. Later, they were regularly moved from one room to another to prevent them from sleeping.
The Italian prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into possible kidnapping, torture, and sexual assault. Testimonies will be taken from activists who have returned to Italy in recent days.
The German Foreign Ministry confirmed that some German citizens were injured and stated that treating them humanely is an "absolute priority." The ministry described some of the allegations as "serious."
Sabrina Sharik, who was involved in repatriating French activists, told Reuters that five French citizens were hospitalized in Turkey. Some were found to have broken ribs and vertebrae.
According to her, some activists gave detailed accounts of sexual violence, including rape.
In an Instagram post verified by Reuters, French activist Adrien Jouen displayed bruises on his body.
The activists say that part of the violence occurred at sea when the ships were stopped by the Israeli navy, and the rest occurred during detention and imprisonment in Israel.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced that 44 Spanish flotilla participants would return to Madrid and Barcelona via Istanbul. Four of them received medical treatment for injuries.
Following the incident, Western countries strongly protested a video showing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocking activists pinned to the ground in a prison.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that EU countries are discussing the possibility of imposing sanctions against Ben-Gvir.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had proposed imposing sanctions against Ben-Gvir and another Israeli minister last year, but the initiative was not supported by all 27 EU member states.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned Israel's actions against the "Global Sumud Flotilla" carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza and called on the international community to take measures against Israel's actions.
