Lawyers Demand Release of French Activists Detained after Gaza Flotilla Interception
Lawyers representing 27 French nationals detained by Israeli forces following the interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla on wednesday are demanding their immediate release. the activists were among those aboard vessels boarded by Israeli commandos attempting to prevent the ships from reaching the Palestinian territory.
The interception is the latest in a series of confrontations over attempts to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since 2007. Israel maintains the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas, the Islamist movement controlling Gaza, which is considered a terrorist organization by many countries, including the European Union.
Reports from those detained, including Irish activist Paddy O’Donovan, allege mistreatment during detention. O’Donovan stated, “They didn’t give us water to drink, they didn’t give us food. We were like animals.” He further affirmed his willingness to participate in future aid convoys, stating, “I would go back as people need help.”
Another activist, Tadhg Hickey, described his experience as not discouraging him from further action, declaring, “I am prepared to spend the rest of my life trying to bring down this apartheid state.”
Detainees have also reported being denied access to medical care, legal counsel, and interaction with the outside world. They claim they were forced to drink toilet water for several days. According to reports from Dublin, sixteen Irish people arrested by Israel have returned or are being repatriated.
