GREECE May 2, 2026A Spanish activist aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla has released a detailed video testimony describing overcrowding, sleep deprivation, and physical violence during detention on an Israeli naval vessel following the flotilla’s interception in international waters near Crete.
In the recording shared by the Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla), participant Javi Aparente described being held in a makeshift “courtyard prison” constructed from six shipping containers on the Israeli ship. Activists were reportedly packed 40–70 per container or forced to sleep on the open deck. At night, floors were allegedly flooded with water, a tactic the group says was intended to cause sleep deprivation and psychological distress.
The situation intensified when Israeli forces attempted to separate two activists — Saif Abukeshek (Palestinian-Spanish) and Thiago Ávila (Brazilian steering committee member) — from the rest of the group. Most participants were transferred to Crete against their will, but Abukeshek and Ávila remain in Israeli custody. The flotilla is demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
Aparente said the group responded with non-violent resistance to stay united. He recounted being ordered to kneel with hands on his head, having his wrists tightly zip-tied, and being pushed to the floor. Soldiers reportedly stepped on activists’ bodies and heads. Aparente described Saif Abukeshek screaming in pain from restraints that cut off circulation. During transfer, he said he was dragged, dropped, and repeatedly kicked in the back, side, head, face, and nose.
“They were kicking me on my back, on the side and eventually they kicked my head, face, nose,” Aparente stated in the testimony.
The Global Sumud Flotilla — a coalition of dozens of civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid and more than 400 international activists from multiple countries — was intercepted by Israeli forces late on April 29–30 in international waters off Greece’s Peloponnese Peninsula, hundreds of miles from Gaza and near Crete. Organizers called the operation an act of “piracy” and “illegal detention on the high seas.” Israel has confirmed intercepting multiple boats (reports range from 22 to 50 vessels and around 175 activists detained) to enforce its naval blockade of Gaza, stating the flotilla posed a security risk and that aid should enter through established land crossings rather than direct sea routes. Israeli officials have described the action as lawful under international maritime law.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned the boarding and detentions as unlawful, raising concerns over arbitrary detention and the safety of those still held. Several governments have expressed alarm over the interception occurring far from Israeli territorial waters. Greek authorities assisted in the transfer of most activists to Crete, though flotilla participants criticized the handling upon arrival.
The Global Sumud Flotilla describes itself as a peaceful civil society effort to break what it calls Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza and deliver urgently needed humanitarian supplies. Organizers say the two activists still in custody were targeted for their prominent roles in the mission.
As of this reporting, no independent verification of the specific abuse allegations has been released, and Israeli authorities have not publicly commented on the conditions described in the testimony. The incident comes amid heightened international scrutiny of maritime access to Gaza and ongoing efforts by activist fleets to challenge the blockade.
The Global Sumud Flotilla continues to call for the immediate release of Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila and for governments worldwide to uphold international law and protect civilians at sea.
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