Flotilla detainees allege abuse, denial of legal rights in Israeli custody

A lawyer representing activists detained from the Global Sumud Flotilla has alleged that they were mistreated and denied access to basic rights while being held in an Israeli prison.

Lubna Tuma, legal counsel with Adalah, a human rights organisation and legal centre, said the detainees faced conditions that “reflect the wider system of abuse faced by Palestinian prisoners”.

According to Tuma, several detainees began administrative procedures without legal representation and were held in rooms measuring about three metres wide. She said many were handcuffed “from behind for more than five hours” and were deprived of food, water, and medical attention.

“When we asked if they saw a doctor or received any medical treatment, they said no one saw them,” Tuma said.

She added that the activists were insulted and mocked during detention. Women detainees, particularly those wearing hijabs, were reportedly “treated much more harshly”, with some prohibited from praying or wearing the hijab.

In a statement, the Global Sumud Flotilla said the treatment of the detainees “is not an isolated case”, adding that it reflects “the same methods routinely used against Palestinians under occupation — humiliation, deprivation, and collective punishment”.