The first images of wounds suffered by Gaza flotilla protesters while in Israeli detention have been revealed.
One activist is seen with cuts and bruises on his back as he walks topless through Istanbul airport. He flashes a peace sign as he walks through security.
All 50 boats from the GlobalSamud Flotilla sailing to deliver aid to Gaza were detained by Israeli forces on Monday.
Some 428 participants were detained across 40 different countries, and held in detention until their deportation today.
It comes after video, released earlier by Israel, showed protesters handcuffed behind their backs and left to kneel face down on the floor in rows.
Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir can be seen smirking, taunting and telling detained activists they should be imprisoned for a very long time.
One handcuffed Irish woman named by activists as Caitriona Graham shouts ‘Free Palestine’ at Ben Gvir but is taken down quickly with her head forced to the floor as the minister is ushered away smiling.
After diplomatic intervention led to her being freed she was filmed saying ‘Free Palestine’ again as she hugged another activist.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said although Israel has every right to stop ‘provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters,’ the way that Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists ‘is not in line with Israel’s values and norms.’
A spokesperson for the flotilla said there is no legal basis for the arrest of participants trying to deliver aid.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland said officials ‘are actively monitoring the situation regarding the Global Sumud Flotilla’ and are engaging with the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Ministry, on X, described the flotilla as a ‘provocation and a search for publicity’ and claimed there was no aid on board.
It added: ‘The purpose of this provocation is to serve Hamas, to divert attention from Hamas’s refusal to disarm, and to obstruct progress on President Trump’s peace plan.’
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