Editor’s note: This story contains graphic depictions of sexual violence, physical torture, and accusations of abuse.
Activists aboard a humanitarian aid platoon captured by Israeli forces en route to Gaza claim they were beaten, tortured and sexually assaulted while in custody.
The Global Sumud convoy, which was carrying 428 passengers along with food, medicine and humanitarian supplies for civilians in the Gaza Strip, was intercepted for several days after leaving Turkey, with the final intercept taking place on Tuesday.
The group was detained before being deported to Turkey, and their alleged treatment has already sparked an international backlash.
Adalah, an Israeli-based human rights group representing the activists, told CNN that its lawyers have documented testimony from participants who said they were attacked with Tasers and rubber bullets, and beaten to the point of suspected broken bones. The Global Smud Flotilla statement added that the activists had been subjected to sexual violence, including “multiple rapes” including “forced penetration with a handgun.”
The Israeli Prison Service told CNN that “the allegations raised are false and have no factual basis at all” and that it “operates in accordance with the law.”
Miriam Azem, Adalah’s international advocacy coordinator, supported the allegations. “In the past 10 years that Adalah has represented convoy activists, this is the worst violence and assault we have encountered,” she told CNN.
Adalah said she would let activists who say they have experienced sexual violence speak out for themselves. Azem said some survivors did not want to discuss their assaults in detail, while others were still in Israeli custody at the time they spoke to Adalah and feared repercussions.
Australian filmmaker and activist Juliette Lamont told CNN that she was assaulted and sexually assaulted by five men in a shipping container she called an Israeli “prison ship.”
Lamont told reporters at Istanbul airport on Thursday, wearing a gray prisoner’s jersey issued by the Israel Prisons Service (IPS), that he believed the activists were the target of a “relentless” and “premeditated campaign of violence” aimed at preventing them from returning.
“You know, they broke our bones, but they didn’t break our souls,” Lamont said.
IPS told CNN it “rejects general allegations that are intended to depict systemic misconduct.”
“All prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law, with full regard to their fundamental rights and under the supervision of professional and trained prison staff,” IPS said.
“Certain complaints or allegations raised through appropriate legal and official channels will be investigated by competent authorities in accordance with applicable procedures,” IPS said.
Australian national Zach Schofield spoke to Australian reporters from an Istanbul hospital about the “constant barrage of violence” and “brutality” he faced while in custody.
“I myself was tied up in a torturous position for 40 minutes with my hands tied behind my back until I almost threw up from the pain. Then, during the immigration process, my head was slammed against the table, knees were constantly pressed against my chest and face, pliers were put in my ears and I was pulled in every way,” he said, adding that he saw others “strangled” on the ground.
In another video testimony by activists filmed at Istanbul airport on Thursday, Platoon activists described similar forms of severe abuse in detention.
According to Reuters, Germany said some of its citizens were injured and that some of the accusations were “serious”, but gave no further details. Italian legal sources reported that Italian prosecutors said they were investigating possible crimes including kidnapping and sexual assault. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Friday that she had received information detailing “horrific mistreatment of Canadians detained in Israel” and that Canada “unequivocally condemns the serious mistreatment of Canadians in Israel.” She added that those responsible should be held accountable.
The allegations come amid growing international criticism of Israel’s far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, who on Wednesday shared a video on his X account calling a platoon of activists kneeling on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs and holding Israeli flags as “supporters of terrorism.”
Leaders across Europe and other countries whose citizens participated in the platoon condemned the treatment of the activists seen in the video. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this showed an “unacceptable” violation of their human dignity.
There was a huge outcry, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an unprecedented public appearance, criticized Ben Gvir’s treatment of the detainees, saying they were “not consistent with Israeli values.” Prime Minister Netanyahu supported the decision to intercept the convoy.
The purpose of the Gaza-bound flotilla was to deliver humanitarian aid to the blockaded area, where basic conditions such as food and water remain difficult for many civilians despite the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October 2025.
