Source: TRT World
ISTANBUL, Oct 5, 2025— Freed Turkish and Malaysian activists aboard a humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza have painted a harrowing picture of abuse, racism, and deprivation during their detention by Israeli forces, as they returned home Saturday amid calls for international accountability.
The vessel, carrying aid to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza, was targeted in international waters by Israeli drones that bombed it, followed by assault boats attempting to sink the ship and commandos boarding to seize control. Among the 137 detainees—36 Turkish and 23 Malaysian—activists described a three-day nightmare of physical beatings, racial slurs, and basic rights stripped away.
Hasmet Yazici, one of the released Turks, recounted being herded onto a concrete floor at Ashdod port, hands bound behind his back and head forced to the ground for three hours. “Elderly and weak people were kicked and handcuffed in a prostration position for one to two hours if they shifted,” Yazici said. A female Israeli security officer allegedly hurled the slur, “Dirty Turks, you already smell bad,” sparking threats when challenged on her racism. Interrogators pressed him to sign Hebrew documents he refused, insisting the mission complied with international law amid what he called an “ongoing genocide” in Gaza.
Fellow activist Bekir Develi detailed the toll: handcuffs so tight they left bruises, no water for four days—met with abuse when requested—and food withheld for two days. Prayers were interrupted, and personal items, including cash, were stolen. “It was psychological and physical torture,” Develi told reporters upon landing at Istanbul Airport at 3:50 p.m. local time.
Mesut Cakar’s account escalated the severity: an hour on scorching asphalt in reverse handcuffs, where a friend’s arm was broken. Turks faced harsher treatment than Europeans, he said, with belongings pilfered and a two-hour ride in a “cramped cage-like” police van. In prison, water was nonexistent, forcing detainees to sip from toilet taps. Asthmatic activists were denied medication, an Australian was assaulted, and cells were shuffled every two hours. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit prompted further isolation into cages, with guards mocking, smoking, and filming the captives.
The group underwent medical exams at Istanbul’s Forensic Medicine Institute before giving statements to prosecutors, who launched an probe into the Israeli raid. As testimonies mount, the incident underscores escalating tensions over Gaza aid efforts, with activists vowing to persist despite the risks.