Another set of Global Sumud activists has arrived in Argentina after their release from Israeli detention. The activists allege that they were tortured by Israeli forces while in detention.
Stay informed on nonprofit news, grants & jobs
Join sector leaders and grantmakers who read Charity Journal.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Released Global Sumud activists allege torture in Israeli detention
Some Global Sumud activists who were captured by the Israeli navy for being aboard the Gaza aid flotilla have arrived in Argentina after their release. Upon their arrival, the activists said they were tortured and maltreated while in detention.
Global Sumud Flotilla activists returning home to Argentina say they were subjected to ‘torture’ and mistreatment by Israeli forces who detained them at sea while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. pic.twitter.com/wgGVHZYrBe
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 5, 2026
Other released activists have also reported torture and maltreatment while in Israeli custody. The Israeli navy intercepted the flotilla while in international waters and took about 175 activists who were onboard into custody.
Moreover, the activists who returned to Argentina described the torture they suffered while in detention.
“They beat us. Left us exposed to the sun. Deprived us of water. Deprived us of information and stole everything from us. They never told us where we were going. We did not know where we were. They ensured that we received a lot of heat during the day to dehydrate us. When we were leaving, they began to discreetly grab some of the activists and beat them,” said Raul Laguna Bosch, one of the released activists.
Similarly, activists who were released earlier accused the Israeli forces of torture. They said Israeli forces beat and roughly handled them.
The activists are also calling for support for Palestinians trapped in Israeli custody.
“What we went through is nothing compared to what Palestinians go through daily. And there are still 9,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, of which 400 are children under 12 years old,” said Cristina Aguero, one of the released activists.
Two activists still under Israeli detention
While the Israeli forces have released other activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, two of the activists are still in custody. Their names are Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila.
The Israeli authorities accused the duo of “assisting the enemy during wartime” and “providing services to a terrorist organisation.” There have been multiple reports of the detained activists being tortured by the Israeli forces.
Reportedly, soldiers have kept them with their hands tied and their eyes blindfolded. Soldiers reportedly dragged Thiago Avila by the face across the floor and was beaten so severely that he passed out twice.
Various international bodies and personalities have begun calling for the release of the two activists. The organisers of the flotilla have said Israel’s actions constitute a violation of international law.