{"id":8864,"date":"2026-05-22T21:05:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T21:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=8864"},"modified":"2026-05-22T21:05:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T21:05:10","slug":"flotilla-activists-describe-beatings-tasers-and-mistreatment-by-israeli-forces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=8864","title":{"rendered":"Flotilla activists describe beatings, tasers and mistreatment by Israeli forces"},"content":{"rendered":"

By The Associated Press<\/strong><\/p>\n

Activists detained when their flotilla attempted to breach Israel\u2019s naval blockade of Gaza say they have been mistreated at the hands of Israeli soldiers, describing beatings, tasers and attack dogs.<\/p>

Read more Live at 2 p.m.: Garden Grove hazmat news conference with fire, police and elected officials<\/a><\/p>\n

The Global Sumud Flotilla of 50 boats was intercepted in international waters some 250 miles off the coast of Israel, and activists along with journalists and at least one lawmaker from Italy were transferred onto military boats and brought to a larger military vessel at the Ashdod port in southern Israel, where they were held in containers, according to their accounts. They told The Associated Press they were punched and kicked, as well as dragged and pulled by their hair.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has called for deporting political opponents and was barred from mandatory military service for his extreme views, sparked global outrage after promoting a video of himself taunting activists from a flotilla to Gaza who were detained by his police force. Foreign leaders have condemned his on-camera treatment of the detainees and several countries summoned Israeli envoys to air their concerns.<\/p>\n

Israel denies mistreatment. The allegations were \u201cfalse and entirely without factual basis,\u201d said Zivan Freidin, a spokesperson for the Israeli Prison Service.<\/p>\n