Two British activists have stated that they required hospital treatment after being assaulted by Israeli forces who intercepted their Gaza aid flotilla last week. Alice Chapman and Zak Khan were among 180 members of the Global Sumud flotilla detained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in international waters near Crete on Wednesday.
Allegations of Violence
Zak Khan, a Green party council election candidate, reported being shot in the leg with a rubber bullet fired by an Israeli soldier. “I was beaten by four people, repeatedly punched, kicked, spat on and accused of being a terrorist,” he said. Alice Chapman told the Guardian that an Israeli soldier had punched her. Khan added that doctors informed him he had narrowly avoided a broken jaw during the assault. He also contracted a chest infection due to the conditions on the Israeli prison ship.
Detention Conditions
According to Chapman, approximately half of the detainees were forced to sleep inside shipping containers, while the remainder stayed outside. They endured severe cold at night and extreme heat during the day, with Israeli soldiers allegedly denying them water and using stun grenades to disrupt their sleep. Several detainees were placed in solitary confinement, some due to medical conditions, but Khan claimed others were taken away and beaten. He named one individual, Richard, who was “beaten very badly inside a container” after speaking loudly and saying “free Palestine.”
Ongoing Detentions
Two flotilla members, Saif Abukeshek (Spanish-Swedish of Palestinian origin) and Thiago Ávila (Brazilian), remain held in Israel. They have appeared before a court in Ashkelon but have not been charged. Spain and Brazil issued a joint statement condemning the “abduction of two of their citizens in international waters by the government of Israel.”
Hospitalisation and Aftermath
The pair, now in Crete, said they were among 34 people taken to hospital upon release, with three requiring ambulances. Israeli forces intercepted at least 22 boats from the flotilla, which aimed to break Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid. Organisers reported about 20 British nationals on board, eight of whom were detained. Two have returned to the UK, while the rest are in Crete and Turkey.
Reactions and Responses
The flotilla organisers condemned Israel’s actions as piracy, stating that those on board were seized unlawfully over 600 miles from Gaza. Israeli authorities have been approached for comment but previously dismissed the flotilla as a provocative “PR stunt,” insisting their actions complied with international law. The UK Foreign Office did not respond to a request for comment but earlier stated it was engaging with Israeli authorities, expecting the situation to be resolved safely and in line with international law. A spokesperson added: “Efforts to deliver aid by sea highlight the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Israel must do more to allow sufficient aid into Gaza, in line with agreed minimum targets.”
