South African Gaza flotilla activists allege torture, electrocution in Israeli detention
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Johannesburg: South African activists detained after their boats were intercepted while attempting to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza have alleged that they were beaten, tortured, and electrocuted by Israeli soldiers during detention.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising 50 boats, was intercepted in international waters around 250 miles (400 kilometres) off the coast of Israel as it sought to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
Speaking after returning to South Africa from Türkiye on Saturday morning, the activists—who were welcomed by pro-Palestine supporters and family members—claimed they faced harsh treatment in detention. They alleged that some of them were electrocuted during interrogations about their involvement in the flotilla.
They further said conditions worsened when soldiers learned they were South African nationals, a country that has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice and accused it of genocide in Gaza.
“We were denied access to water for a while. The food they did give us was not suitable for human consumption. We were denied access to toilets for many hours, and the minute we started protesting, we were shot at with rubber bullets,” said activist Faizel Moosa.
Moosa, a former anti-apartheid activist who participated in South Africa’s struggle against white minority rule, said the experience was the harshest detention he had faced.
“Having experienced detention under the apartheid regime during the struggle, this was far worse. It just goes to show that this is what Palestinians go through on a daily basis,” he said.
According to the activists, they were held for several days at K’tziot prison, where some were allegedly electrocuted.
Another activist, Qutb Hendricks, urged the South African government to increase pressure on Israel, including by banning the export of coal and other supplies.
The Israeli government has denied all allegations of mistreatment, calling them “false and entirely without factual basis.”
With PTI inputs
