A group of Democratic Senators is demanding that the State Department provide them with information about its response to Israel’s interception of multiple boats that were attempting to deliver aid to Gaza.
Over the past week, Israel has abducted about 500 people who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Some of those who have been released from detainment have reported physical abuse and inhumane treatment from Israeli soldiers.
In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) ask why it took the Trump administration four days to visit and assess the care of American citizens on the boats, despite widespread reports of mistreatment. It notes that the governments of other countries with detained citizens, such as Italy and Switzerland, immediately responded to the situation.
“We are also disturbed by reports that those detained were pressured to forfeit their due process rights by making their release contingent on admitting guilt for entering Israel illegally,” note the Senators. “What steps will the State Department take to independently evaluate the accusations of mistreatment towards American citizens on the Global Sumud Flotilla?”
In recent days, activists have detailed their time in detention.
David Adler, an American activist and co-general coordinator of the Progressive International, says that Israeli soldiers demanded to know whether he was Jewish, then grabbed him by the ear, forcing him to bend down and stare at the flag of Israel. Adler, and other prisoners, were later berated by far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called them terrorists.
“Over the coming hours, we were strip-searched, zip-tied, blindfolded and disappeared into the Negev Desert, into one of the most infamous — Guantánamo Bay of Israel, Ktzi’ot — detention camps, 400,000 square meters, where many hundreds and thousands of political prisoners from Palestine have been held and tortured over the course of the past 30 years, since — and indeed, since it was reopened in 2002, after they had to shut it down for repeated reports of serial human rights violations,” Adler said.
“Over the coming days inside that camp, we, as internees, I should say — it wasn’t a prison, it was an internment camp — suffered serial and systematic violations of our most basic rights,” he continued. “We had, on and off, no access to food, water, never a shower. The North Africans, in particular, were targeted for severe abuse and beatings, taken out of their cells with German Shepherds and guns at their heads and cuffed at the hands, cuffed at the ankles, blindfolded and put into isolation. We had to sort of try to rally as a cell block to get them back. And I must say, systematic deprivation of lifesaving medicine, which includes insulin. One of the women in the cell blocks had such a severe kidney infection that she fainted twice, and over two days was denied access to medicine.”
The mother of two Massachusetts residents who were detained told the Boston Globe that her children were safe, but “sustained some injuries.”
Lorenzo D’Agostino, an Italian flotilla participant, said that people from countries allied with Israel experienced better treatment than those from other places.
“I was sharing my cell with a Turkish citizen whose arm was broken and he was left without painkillers for two days,” said D’Agostino.
Los Angeles-based journalist Emily Wilder was detained by the Israeli military while covering the flotilla for the website Jewish Currents. In letters to Rubio, Congress member Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) demanded updates on his constituent.
“Failure to take immediate and comprehensive action to secure the release of Ms. Wilder and other detainees would implicate your department and the Trump administration in an unconscionable abandonment of basic American principles and a dangerous undermining of our diplomatic standing internationally,” wrote Gomez.
Shortly before this article was published, it was announced that Wilder and several other flotilla members have been deported to Istanbul and are now attempting to return home.
Thus far, the administration has only mentioned the flotilla while mocking the humanitarian efforts.
Responding to a tweet Adler made shortly before Israel intercepted the boats, American ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee attacked the activist.
“This self-absorbed tool of Hamas didn’t say 1 word about hostages held for 2 yrs & being tortured or Oct 7 & the brutal rapes, massacres & torture of civilians,” wrote Huckabee. “This stunt sailed from Spain w/ less “aid” that could be shipped as an Amazon pkg. Wanna help? Tell Hamas END THIS!”
Asked by a reporter about Greta Thunberg, the environmental activist who was detained and allegedly mistreated while participating in the mission, President Trump dismissed her as a “troublemaker.”
“She’s no longer into the environment now,” said Trump. “She has an anger management problem. I think she should see a doctor. Have you ever watched her? She’s a young person. She’s so angry, she’s so crazy.”
“I hear Donald Trump has once again expressed his flattering opinions on my character, and I appreciate his concern for my mental health,” responded Thunberg in an Instagram post.
“I would kindly receive any recommendations you might have to deal with these so-called ‘anger management problems,’ since — judging by your impressive track record — you seem to be suffering from them too,” she added.
Hidden History -- In The Making 