15 aug 2018
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Human rights activist John Turnbull describes how Israel’s navy hijacked a peaceful vessel in international waters, and kidnapped its passengers and crew.
Dimitri Lascaris is a lawyer, journalist, and activist. After working in the New York and Paris offices of a major Wall Street law firm, Dimitri became a class action lawyer in Canada. His practice focused on shareholder rights, environmental wrongs, and human rights. In 2012, Canadian Lawyer Magazine named him one of the 25 most influential lawyers in Canada, and in 2013, Canadian Business Magazine named him one of the 50 most influential persons in Canadian business. |
Dimitri ran as a Green Party candidate in Canada’s 2015 federal election and has served as the Justice Critic in the Green Party of Canada’s shadow cabinet.
TRNN Video & Transcript:
DIMITRI LASCARIS: This is Dmitri Lascaris, reporting for The Real News Network from Montreal, Canada.
For the past few months, The Real News has been covering the voyage of the Freedom Flotilla from Scandinavia to Gaza. Matters came to a head in late July when Al Awda, the lead vessel of the flotilla, was hijacked in international waters by Israel’s navy. Its passengers were then forced to enter Israel and were incarcerated there. The second vessel in the flotilla, the Freedom, was hijacked by Israel’s navy a few days later. Freedom was captained by Canadian human rights activist John Turnbull. The Real News spoke to John by satellite phone a few days before Israel’s seizure of the vessel. And last week, John was finally released from an Israeli prison after the seizure and was permitted to leave the country. He joins us today from Paris, France. Thanks very much for joining us, John.
JOHN TURNBULL: You’re very welcome, Dimitri. Good to be here.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: John, why don’t we start with the moment at which the vessel the Freedom was first contacted by Israeli forces, and then talk to us, please, about the seizure of the vessel. How did that unfold?
JOHN TURNBULL: Well, we are a sailboat, a fairly heavy, reasonably large sailboat, 72 feet long. We were waiting for nightfall, expecting to be contacted, and in fact hoping that they might let us go until sunrise the next day. But that was not to happen. Around 7:00 we received a VHF call. It was fairly standard call asking for identity. But when the questions got a little farther than our simple identity, which is convention, I objected. That I didn’t understand the nature of the call, or the intent behind it.
At that point, the Israeli navy read two statements- in fact, I think it might have been a recording of a statement- basically saying we were entering a military zone and our vessel could be confiscated. And then a few moments later there was a sort of second degree, but similar, message. We began at that point, and now it’s about 8:00, to notice lights surrounding us on all the cardinal and intermediate points of the compass. Those lights came closer. A little bit like seeing the eyes of wolves in the forest, if that’s happened to you.
And around 9:00, shortly after 9:00 local time- I have to be careful here, because on the ship we were on UTC time, we were approached by two very large, powerful, diesel inflatable landing craft, essentially, that came out from our quarters, from our stern, and pinched the boat between them. At that point a woman aboard one of the boats using a bullhorn announced her name, and told us that we were ladies and gentlemen, and that they were the Israeli navy, and they came in peace. Which I think is a lovely phrase, especially when it’s accompanied by about 20 to 25 soldiers, all armed with machine guns across their backs. No lifejackets, that surprised me a little.
They came aboard the boats. And very quickly, of course, we put our hands up to indicate that we were not going to resist them. It would have been very dangerous on that particular boat. And a fellow came back who seemed to know a little bit about sailboats, and he asked me to steer a particular course. And I said, no, I don’t work for the Israeli navy. And so he began to steer the boat in.
We steered the boat under [inaudible], the boat under sails for several minutes. Had some problems with the boat, obviously it’s a complex boat, and eventually took it under tow. We were towed into Ashdod. And if I can take a moment to describe the image; I think it’ll stick in my mind forever. As we began to approach the coast close enough to see it and to pick out lights, especially at a second level of buildings, we saw a string of lights representing Ashdod, demarcating Ashdod. And then perhaps a mile or three south of Ashdod, the lights, the string of lights stopped and there was nothing but darkness. And we were then looking at this dark shoreline which, under cover of darkness, of course, hid about 2 million prisoners in Gaza. It was quite a moment for me. I knew this intellectually but to feel it in my heart was quite different.
By this time the sun was coming up. It was 6:30, 6:00 in the morning. We were put ashore at a big ugly old dock. We were all taken to shore. We all made the statement that we did not wish to be there. And we were processed through a series of temporary tents by, I’d say-. Well, there were 12 of us. There were probably 120 border control people, people taking pictures. Young folks in uniform. All milling about, all making a tremendous racket. And we were checked. Searched, of course. Checked by a doctor. Asked to sign papers. Refused. Our passports were photographed, etc. And then there were a couple of further body searches. Nothing really invasive. Nothing grim about that. We were finally put into a van, what the French would call a kind of [inaudible], a kind of metal box that you couldn’t see out of, and we were taken off to prison, which I guess is a few miles north of Ashdod.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: What were conditions like in prison, and how long were you held there?
JOHN TURNBULL: We were held five and a half, six days. Conditions were, I suppose, like any prison in a modern, wealthy country. Not nice, pretty noisy. Concrete floors, steel doors banging, prison guards yelling at each other for no reason at all, apparently. A little bit tatty. This is- and I don’t mean to give it a, you know, a travel adviser rating, but it was a little rough. It’s a deportation prison. And this, of course, is the irony of the Israeli deportation laws. We did not want to be there, but the prison is normally there for people who do want to stay in Israel, and they’re being put out. It had a courtyard with an old office chair in it, and it had a kind of quaint, lived-in quality, which was kind of nice.
We slept in steel bunks on thin mattresses, just like prisoners do, and we were given a breakfast of fresh cucumbers. I have to say, they were very good. And that’s about what we had. That and a bit of hummus for the following five days.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: Right. And the documents you were presented, were they in the English language, or in Hebrew?
JOHN TURNBULL: Well, they were in English, at least the first document. And this was a point of some confusion. The first document essentially said that we would waive, that we were being asked whether we wanted to waive our right to stay in the country for 72 hours, because someone- normally someone deported from Israel now has a right to stay in the country for 72 hours to arrange his or her affairs, get paid, et cetera. Of, course we were in the opposite situation. We were not particularly interested in staying there. However, we were interested in making as much fuss as possible for the judges and other officials involved.
So a couple of us eventually signed the paper. It had no effect on our time of leaving. It was confusing, whenever we decided, whenever one of us decided it was time to sign the paper, the paper suddenly disappeared. So it was a whole lot of nonsense that amounted to very little, in legal terms.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: And your-. Was the vessel seized in international waters?
JOHN TURNBULL: We were seized at 37 miles from the port of Gaza, which is international waters. That is just to say it’s outside the 12 mile, 12 nautical mile limit from the shoreline. No question this was international waters. We were on a bearing of roughly 120 degrees. So people who have a chart in front of them can imagine where we were.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: And finally, John, how would you assess- you’re a Canadian citizen. How would you assess the Canadian government’s reaction to all of this? Specifically, in your view, has it done enough to ensure that the rights of the passengers and crew of the flotilla were respected, and that Israel be held accountable for any violations of those rights?
JOHN TURNBULL: Well, the second part of your question first. No, I don’t believe enough has been done. And of course, I’m more concerned about the rights of Palestinians. You know, a guy like me who has a five-year prison experience, that’s a story. That’s, you know, that’s dinner conversation. The story here, of course, is that Palestinians suffer this and much, much worse for their entire lives. And for me, you get in, you get out.
The Canadian government, I have to say, the bureaucracy, I think they did a perfect bureaucratic job. They got in there two days after we were captured. They advised me, they began to set up routes to France or to Toronto. As it turned out, it was France. They did their jobs beautifully. At another level of that embassy and that consul, of course, there’s the complete acceptance and support, enthusiastic support, for what has recently been shown to be, even since I was let out, what has shown to be an attempt have slow genocide of an entire people. And this is an ally of Canada. I would never have imagined in my youth living in a country, Canada, with a reputation for human rights, now forming close relations, close and profitable relations, a country that as a matter of policy is poisoning, for example, a million children in Gaza, or is holding prisoner two million people who cannot get out without the permission of their jailkeepers.
So the fact that I’m out of custody, that’s, that’s not the story. The fact is there are six and a half million Palestinians who remain in the custody of the Israeli government.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: When you refer to the poisoning of the children, I assume you’re talking about the fact that virtually all of the water is contaminated; something the range of 95 percent.
JOHN TURNBULL: Yes. And since I got out, I believe one of the treatment plants, or the treatment plant, has been bombed again, if you can imagine.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: Well, John, we thank you for your time, and welcome you back to freedom. And really appreciate all the time you’ve taken to keep us abreast during the course of this voyage at The Real News of the development of the entire expedition. Thank you very much, John.
JOHN TURNBULL: Thank you, Dimitri. And thanks to The Real News.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: And this is Dimitri Lascaris, reporting from Montreal, Canada.
07/13/18 Freedom Flotilla Activist Divina Levrini: ‘Gaza needs to be remembered.’
TRNN Video & Transcript:
DIMITRI LASCARIS: This is Dmitri Lascaris, reporting for The Real News Network from Montreal, Canada.
For the past few months, The Real News has been covering the voyage of the Freedom Flotilla from Scandinavia to Gaza. Matters came to a head in late July when Al Awda, the lead vessel of the flotilla, was hijacked in international waters by Israel’s navy. Its passengers were then forced to enter Israel and were incarcerated there. The second vessel in the flotilla, the Freedom, was hijacked by Israel’s navy a few days later. Freedom was captained by Canadian human rights activist John Turnbull. The Real News spoke to John by satellite phone a few days before Israel’s seizure of the vessel. And last week, John was finally released from an Israeli prison after the seizure and was permitted to leave the country. He joins us today from Paris, France. Thanks very much for joining us, John.
JOHN TURNBULL: You’re very welcome, Dimitri. Good to be here.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: John, why don’t we start with the moment at which the vessel the Freedom was first contacted by Israeli forces, and then talk to us, please, about the seizure of the vessel. How did that unfold?
JOHN TURNBULL: Well, we are a sailboat, a fairly heavy, reasonably large sailboat, 72 feet long. We were waiting for nightfall, expecting to be contacted, and in fact hoping that they might let us go until sunrise the next day. But that was not to happen. Around 7:00 we received a VHF call. It was fairly standard call asking for identity. But when the questions got a little farther than our simple identity, which is convention, I objected. That I didn’t understand the nature of the call, or the intent behind it.
At that point, the Israeli navy read two statements- in fact, I think it might have been a recording of a statement- basically saying we were entering a military zone and our vessel could be confiscated. And then a few moments later there was a sort of second degree, but similar, message. We began at that point, and now it’s about 8:00, to notice lights surrounding us on all the cardinal and intermediate points of the compass. Those lights came closer. A little bit like seeing the eyes of wolves in the forest, if that’s happened to you.
And around 9:00, shortly after 9:00 local time- I have to be careful here, because on the ship we were on UTC time, we were approached by two very large, powerful, diesel inflatable landing craft, essentially, that came out from our quarters, from our stern, and pinched the boat between them. At that point a woman aboard one of the boats using a bullhorn announced her name, and told us that we were ladies and gentlemen, and that they were the Israeli navy, and they came in peace. Which I think is a lovely phrase, especially when it’s accompanied by about 20 to 25 soldiers, all armed with machine guns across their backs. No lifejackets, that surprised me a little.
They came aboard the boats. And very quickly, of course, we put our hands up to indicate that we were not going to resist them. It would have been very dangerous on that particular boat. And a fellow came back who seemed to know a little bit about sailboats, and he asked me to steer a particular course. And I said, no, I don’t work for the Israeli navy. And so he began to steer the boat in.
We steered the boat under [inaudible], the boat under sails for several minutes. Had some problems with the boat, obviously it’s a complex boat, and eventually took it under tow. We were towed into Ashdod. And if I can take a moment to describe the image; I think it’ll stick in my mind forever. As we began to approach the coast close enough to see it and to pick out lights, especially at a second level of buildings, we saw a string of lights representing Ashdod, demarcating Ashdod. And then perhaps a mile or three south of Ashdod, the lights, the string of lights stopped and there was nothing but darkness. And we were then looking at this dark shoreline which, under cover of darkness, of course, hid about 2 million prisoners in Gaza. It was quite a moment for me. I knew this intellectually but to feel it in my heart was quite different.
By this time the sun was coming up. It was 6:30, 6:00 in the morning. We were put ashore at a big ugly old dock. We were all taken to shore. We all made the statement that we did not wish to be there. And we were processed through a series of temporary tents by, I’d say-. Well, there were 12 of us. There were probably 120 border control people, people taking pictures. Young folks in uniform. All milling about, all making a tremendous racket. And we were checked. Searched, of course. Checked by a doctor. Asked to sign papers. Refused. Our passports were photographed, etc. And then there were a couple of further body searches. Nothing really invasive. Nothing grim about that. We were finally put into a van, what the French would call a kind of [inaudible], a kind of metal box that you couldn’t see out of, and we were taken off to prison, which I guess is a few miles north of Ashdod.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: What were conditions like in prison, and how long were you held there?
JOHN TURNBULL: We were held five and a half, six days. Conditions were, I suppose, like any prison in a modern, wealthy country. Not nice, pretty noisy. Concrete floors, steel doors banging, prison guards yelling at each other for no reason at all, apparently. A little bit tatty. This is- and I don’t mean to give it a, you know, a travel adviser rating, but it was a little rough. It’s a deportation prison. And this, of course, is the irony of the Israeli deportation laws. We did not want to be there, but the prison is normally there for people who do want to stay in Israel, and they’re being put out. It had a courtyard with an old office chair in it, and it had a kind of quaint, lived-in quality, which was kind of nice.
We slept in steel bunks on thin mattresses, just like prisoners do, and we were given a breakfast of fresh cucumbers. I have to say, they were very good. And that’s about what we had. That and a bit of hummus for the following five days.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: Right. And the documents you were presented, were they in the English language, or in Hebrew?
JOHN TURNBULL: Well, they were in English, at least the first document. And this was a point of some confusion. The first document essentially said that we would waive, that we were being asked whether we wanted to waive our right to stay in the country for 72 hours, because someone- normally someone deported from Israel now has a right to stay in the country for 72 hours to arrange his or her affairs, get paid, et cetera. Of, course we were in the opposite situation. We were not particularly interested in staying there. However, we were interested in making as much fuss as possible for the judges and other officials involved.
So a couple of us eventually signed the paper. It had no effect on our time of leaving. It was confusing, whenever we decided, whenever one of us decided it was time to sign the paper, the paper suddenly disappeared. So it was a whole lot of nonsense that amounted to very little, in legal terms.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: And your-. Was the vessel seized in international waters?
JOHN TURNBULL: We were seized at 37 miles from the port of Gaza, which is international waters. That is just to say it’s outside the 12 mile, 12 nautical mile limit from the shoreline. No question this was international waters. We were on a bearing of roughly 120 degrees. So people who have a chart in front of them can imagine where we were.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: And finally, John, how would you assess- you’re a Canadian citizen. How would you assess the Canadian government’s reaction to all of this? Specifically, in your view, has it done enough to ensure that the rights of the passengers and crew of the flotilla were respected, and that Israel be held accountable for any violations of those rights?
JOHN TURNBULL: Well, the second part of your question first. No, I don’t believe enough has been done. And of course, I’m more concerned about the rights of Palestinians. You know, a guy like me who has a five-year prison experience, that’s a story. That’s, you know, that’s dinner conversation. The story here, of course, is that Palestinians suffer this and much, much worse for their entire lives. And for me, you get in, you get out.
The Canadian government, I have to say, the bureaucracy, I think they did a perfect bureaucratic job. They got in there two days after we were captured. They advised me, they began to set up routes to France or to Toronto. As it turned out, it was France. They did their jobs beautifully. At another level of that embassy and that consul, of course, there’s the complete acceptance and support, enthusiastic support, for what has recently been shown to be, even since I was let out, what has shown to be an attempt have slow genocide of an entire people. And this is an ally of Canada. I would never have imagined in my youth living in a country, Canada, with a reputation for human rights, now forming close relations, close and profitable relations, a country that as a matter of policy is poisoning, for example, a million children in Gaza, or is holding prisoner two million people who cannot get out without the permission of their jailkeepers.
So the fact that I’m out of custody, that’s, that’s not the story. The fact is there are six and a half million Palestinians who remain in the custody of the Israeli government.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: When you refer to the poisoning of the children, I assume you’re talking about the fact that virtually all of the water is contaminated; something the range of 95 percent.
JOHN TURNBULL: Yes. And since I got out, I believe one of the treatment plants, or the treatment plant, has been bombed again, if you can imagine.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: Well, John, we thank you for your time, and welcome you back to freedom. And really appreciate all the time you’ve taken to keep us abreast during the course of this voyage at The Real News of the development of the entire expedition. Thank you very much, John.
JOHN TURNBULL: Thank you, Dimitri. And thanks to The Real News.
DIMITRI LASCARIS: And this is Dimitri Lascaris, reporting from Montreal, Canada.
07/13/18 Freedom Flotilla Activist Divina Levrini: ‘Gaza needs to be remembered.’
5 aug 2018
Israeli occupation authorities on Sunday began the deportation process of the 12 international activists who were on the second vessel of Freedom Flotilla 5 sent to the Gaza Strip in 2018.
Head of the International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza Zaher Birawi said that the Israeli navy intercepted the vessel and seized it as it was heading to Gaza shore at dawn Saturday.
According to Birawi, some activists refuse to leave and sign papers that include a vow not to try to enter Gaza again, which means that they might face trial.
The flotilla had on board 12 international activists, most of whom are Swedish, including a crew from the London-based Press TV channel.
Last week, the Israeli navy attacked another anti-siege vessel called al-Awda (Return) and detained all those on board.
Freedom Flotilla 5 set off in mid-May from Norway and Sweden and passed by a number of European ports during its journey to the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza Strip has been living under a crippling blockade for over 12 years with all border crossings connecting the enclave with the outside world closed. They might be partially opened in exceptional cases for the entry of goods and passengers.
Head of the International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza Zaher Birawi said that the Israeli navy intercepted the vessel and seized it as it was heading to Gaza shore at dawn Saturday.
According to Birawi, some activists refuse to leave and sign papers that include a vow not to try to enter Gaza again, which means that they might face trial.
The flotilla had on board 12 international activists, most of whom are Swedish, including a crew from the London-based Press TV channel.
Last week, the Israeli navy attacked another anti-siege vessel called al-Awda (Return) and detained all those on board.
Freedom Flotilla 5 set off in mid-May from Norway and Sweden and passed by a number of European ports during its journey to the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza Strip has been living under a crippling blockade for over 12 years with all border crossings connecting the enclave with the outside world closed. They might be partially opened in exceptional cases for the entry of goods and passengers.
4 aug 2018
Swedish solidarity activist, Divina Levrini, one of the many international activists, who were attacked and detained by Israeli naval forces aboard the Freedom Flotilla ship last week, talked to Ma'an regarding the Israeli treatment of international activists inside the Israeli Givon (al-Ramla) prisons. video
The international activists were deported to their national countries following two days of detention.
Levrini told Ma'an that when the ship was on 42 nautical miles in international waters, the ship was boarded by the Israeli navy, and "they had talked to our radio operator, who repeatedly told them that we were in international waters and had no intention to cross the border to Israel. That it is a right according to international law to travel in international waters."
"They tasered many of the peace activists. Some got tasered in both head and neck, which could be deadly," Levrini said.
"Our captain received a death threat and I witnessed him get brutally beaten by an Israeli soldier. Many, including myself got beaten. Some were thrown down a ramp and could have broken their necks. One got injured on his foot and there was a lot of blood. He was also punched in his stomach and chest."
Following their detention, the activists were taken to the Ashdod military camp, where they were interrogated on the pretext of "trying to illegally enter into Israel."
Levrini said that the activists refused to say anything before speaking to their lawyers.
"We were strip searched several times and all of our belongings were stolen," Levrini told Ma'an.
"After a while, they pushed me outside and I found all of our clothes, bags and stuff on the ground. Clothes were torn out from the bags and everything was mixed up. I was pushed by a soldier while others stood by and laughed as I was yelled at to collect my belongings and I got 20 seconds to take what was mine. I found two empty bags and my guitar, maybe some t-shirt or other clothing I don't remember because I am still traumatized about it all."
Levrini added that activists were "tortured" in various ways while at the Givon prison; "we were six women in one dirty cell with a hole in the ground."
The Swedish activist said that Israeli prison guards "would come in and yell every one to two hours" and bang on the walls with batons.
"The mind games were really awful. They would give me cigarettes but no lighter. They said that I can use the payphones outside whenever I want but would not give me my money to use them."
Levrini said that activists were separated from each other at some point, after they protested when one of the activists, identified as Larry, asked for a doctor as he was injured in the foot.
"One thing was sure, and that was that when they said something, 9 times of 10 they were lying."
Levrini said that Israeli forces hit one of the female activists, 75, who had a hip replacement surgery four months ago.
"They did not really beat us any time before or after that in jail so we thought that they are so used to beating Palestinians that they forgot our embassies were ready to act if something like that would happen."
The activists requested a doctor afterwards to check on the woman, the Israelis then had "certain conditions" which activists refused and were then told that they could not see the doctor if they do not agree to the conditions.
She added that they were able to see the doctor several hours later but were put in a "small outdoor cell in the scorching heat and hard benched where she couldn't sit."
Levrini said that after waiting for hours before finally seeing the doctor, the doctor told them "in perfect English" that he does not understand English. The 75-year-old female activist "had to Explain in Hebrew, she got no help."
Levrini was deprived of her prescribed medications for 36 hours. She then received half a dose of her only one "important" medicine after the Swedish embassy intervened. "The embassy yelled at a guard to give me my medicines and he said that I would get an appointment with the doctor, but he told me in perfect English that he doesn't understand English and I have to speak in Arabic," she said.
Israeli forces confiscated the activists' driving licenses, medicines, phones, money and credit cards; "most of our luggage is gone. I came home with only a small bag with random clothes I found. I was at sea for two-and-a-half months, so I had much more with me."
Levrini along with several other activists, who were detained by Israeli naval forces, commenced a hunger strike inside the Israeli prison until they received information that other activists, who were deported earlier than them, had safely arrived to their countries.
Levrini said that most of the peace activists did not know that they were being deported until minutes before they were.
Levrini said that the activists' message to the world is that their mission was never about us or the treatment received by the Israeli government; "what the Palestinians go through is much worse."
She pointed out that Israeli forces also confiscated a cargo full of medical supplies and the four ships they were aboard, which were meant to be a gift for Gazans; "of course there are two million souls living in Gaza and we only had four ships, but the symbolic act is important because the fishermen are shot in their own waters and the much needed medical supplies never reaches Gaza."
"There is a genocide going on by an apartheid regime and the world must act, even if it happens in small acts like these."
Levrini concluded that "it was and has always been about raising awareness, making politicians act and making sure that the Palestinians know that we will never forget them. The ships will continue to sail until Gaza is free."
The international activists were deported to their national countries following two days of detention.
Levrini told Ma'an that when the ship was on 42 nautical miles in international waters, the ship was boarded by the Israeli navy, and "they had talked to our radio operator, who repeatedly told them that we were in international waters and had no intention to cross the border to Israel. That it is a right according to international law to travel in international waters."
"They tasered many of the peace activists. Some got tasered in both head and neck, which could be deadly," Levrini said.
"Our captain received a death threat and I witnessed him get brutally beaten by an Israeli soldier. Many, including myself got beaten. Some were thrown down a ramp and could have broken their necks. One got injured on his foot and there was a lot of blood. He was also punched in his stomach and chest."
Following their detention, the activists were taken to the Ashdod military camp, where they were interrogated on the pretext of "trying to illegally enter into Israel."
Levrini said that the activists refused to say anything before speaking to their lawyers.
"We were strip searched several times and all of our belongings were stolen," Levrini told Ma'an.
"After a while, they pushed me outside and I found all of our clothes, bags and stuff on the ground. Clothes were torn out from the bags and everything was mixed up. I was pushed by a soldier while others stood by and laughed as I was yelled at to collect my belongings and I got 20 seconds to take what was mine. I found two empty bags and my guitar, maybe some t-shirt or other clothing I don't remember because I am still traumatized about it all."
Levrini added that activists were "tortured" in various ways while at the Givon prison; "we were six women in one dirty cell with a hole in the ground."
The Swedish activist said that Israeli prison guards "would come in and yell every one to two hours" and bang on the walls with batons.
"The mind games were really awful. They would give me cigarettes but no lighter. They said that I can use the payphones outside whenever I want but would not give me my money to use them."
Levrini said that activists were separated from each other at some point, after they protested when one of the activists, identified as Larry, asked for a doctor as he was injured in the foot.
"One thing was sure, and that was that when they said something, 9 times of 10 they were lying."
Levrini said that Israeli forces hit one of the female activists, 75, who had a hip replacement surgery four months ago.
"They did not really beat us any time before or after that in jail so we thought that they are so used to beating Palestinians that they forgot our embassies were ready to act if something like that would happen."
The activists requested a doctor afterwards to check on the woman, the Israelis then had "certain conditions" which activists refused and were then told that they could not see the doctor if they do not agree to the conditions.
She added that they were able to see the doctor several hours later but were put in a "small outdoor cell in the scorching heat and hard benched where she couldn't sit."
Levrini said that after waiting for hours before finally seeing the doctor, the doctor told them "in perfect English" that he does not understand English. The 75-year-old female activist "had to Explain in Hebrew, she got no help."
Levrini was deprived of her prescribed medications for 36 hours. She then received half a dose of her only one "important" medicine after the Swedish embassy intervened. "The embassy yelled at a guard to give me my medicines and he said that I would get an appointment with the doctor, but he told me in perfect English that he doesn't understand English and I have to speak in Arabic," she said.
Israeli forces confiscated the activists' driving licenses, medicines, phones, money and credit cards; "most of our luggage is gone. I came home with only a small bag with random clothes I found. I was at sea for two-and-a-half months, so I had much more with me."
Levrini along with several other activists, who were detained by Israeli naval forces, commenced a hunger strike inside the Israeli prison until they received information that other activists, who were deported earlier than them, had safely arrived to their countries.
Levrini said that most of the peace activists did not know that they were being deported until minutes before they were.
Levrini said that the activists' message to the world is that their mission was never about us or the treatment received by the Israeli government; "what the Palestinians go through is much worse."
She pointed out that Israeli forces also confiscated a cargo full of medical supplies and the four ships they were aboard, which were meant to be a gift for Gazans; "of course there are two million souls living in Gaza and we only had four ships, but the symbolic act is important because the fishermen are shot in their own waters and the much needed medical supplies never reaches Gaza."
"There is a genocide going on by an apartheid regime and the world must act, even if it happens in small acts like these."
Levrini concluded that "it was and has always been about raising awareness, making politicians act and making sure that the Palestinians know that we will never forget them. The ships will continue to sail until Gaza is free."
A Palestinian committee in the Gaza Strip announced Saturday that a new flotilla of ships will be set off from the enclave Sunday in a bid to break the 12-year-long Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory.
This was voiced in a press conference held by the National Movement to Break the Siege near Gaza port.
Spokesman for the committee Adham Abu Salmiya called on the Palestinian people in Gaza to rally on Sunday at Gaza port to "tell the world that the Palestinian people will continue their peaceful struggle until the Israeli blockade is lifted" because "Gaza deserves to live".
Two flotillas launched from Gaza Strip during the past few months in an effort to break the siege were intercepted and attacked by the Israeli navy. The first set sail on 29th May while the second on 10th July.
This was voiced in a press conference held by the National Movement to Break the Siege near Gaza port.
Spokesman for the committee Adham Abu Salmiya called on the Palestinian people in Gaza to rally on Sunday at Gaza port to "tell the world that the Palestinian people will continue their peaceful struggle until the Israeli blockade is lifted" because "Gaza deserves to live".
Two flotillas launched from Gaza Strip during the past few months in an effort to break the siege were intercepted and attacked by the Israeli navy. The first set sail on 29th May while the second on 10th July.
IDF intercepts a second Gaza-bound activist boat, which is part of the 'Freedom Flotilla,' in less than a week; Swedish-flagged ship with 12 activists on board was taken to the Port of Ashdod and the those on board had been taken in for 'further inquiry'; On Sunday, the Israeli navy intercepted a Norwegian-flagged activist boat that was part of the flotilla.
The Israeli navy intercepted a Swedish-flagged activist boat bent on breaching its more than decade-long blockade of Gaza, the second in less than a week, the military said on Saturday.
"The ship was monitored and was intercepted in accordance with international law," the army said in a statement, before the vessel, named Freedom for Gaza and carrying 12 people, was taken to the Port of Ashdod.
"The (military) clarified to the ship's passengers that they are violating the legal naval blockade and that any humanitarian merchandise can be transferred to Gaza through the Port of Ashdod," the statement said.
The people on board were taken for "further inquiry".
Freedom was the second boat of the "Freedom Flotilla" to be intercepted en route to "break the blockade" on Gaza, organisers said.
The boat was carrying medical equipment.
Four boats left from Scandinavia in mid-May and stopped in some 28 ports along the way, with two remaining behind after a recent stop in the Italian port of Palermo.
On Sunday, the Israeli navy intercepted a Norwegian-flagged activist boat that was part of the flotilla.
Israel has fought three wars with Palestinian militants in Gaza since 2008 and says the blockade is necessary to keep them from obtaining weapons or materials that could be used for military purposes.
UN officials have called for the blockade to be lifted, citing deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian enclave run by Islamist movement Hamas where 80 percent of the two million population are dependent on aid.
Swedish-flagged Flotilla Vessel Intercepted by Israel
The Israeli army Saturday morning said that it had taken over a European ship, the Swedish-flagged “Freedom,” captained by John Turnbull of Vancouver, that was aimed at breaking the naval blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip by the occupation forces 12 years ago.
After the brutal violence and theft that the Norwegian-flagged Al Awda was subjected to, just days before, Captain Turnbull had stated that the participants and crew of the Freedom will not resist if boarded.
On its website, Ship To Gaza – Sweden, published the following statement;
“We now have confirmed information that S/Y Freedom to Gaza have been boarded on international waters, by Israeli navy. Latest reported position was about 40 nautical miles of the coast of Gaza at 8.06 pm.
Onboard Freedom for Gaza was a crew of twelve persons from five different countries. They are now captured and taken to Israel against their will (For full list follow this link). The boat also carries a cargo of medical supplies.
In this situation, the demands of Ship to Gaza are that the ship with its crew and cargo will be returned to the site of the boarding, and that they will be allowed to go in peace through international and Palestinian waters in accordance to international law.
In effect, this is a demand that the eleven years-long illegal and destructive blockade on Gaza will be lifted at last. The government of Sweden have repeatedly stood behind demands on a lifting of the blockade.
We now expect that the same government, in the capacity of flag nation of the attacked vessel, will also support our specific demands regarding the ship, crew and cargo.”
Spokesman for the Israeli army stated the ship was under surveillance, and that the military had made it clear, to the activists on the ship, that they were violating the maritime blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and that “any humanitarian aid could be transferred to Gaza through the port of Ashdod.”
The ship was towed to a military base in Ashdod, and the activists were detained on board.
The spokesman added that the operation ended without any exceptional events.
The head of the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza, Zaher Birawi, stated that he had lost contact with the Swedish-flagged “Freedom,” at 10 pm on Friday, when it was approximately 40 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip.
In a statement to the press on Friday, Birawi said that the Israeli navy intercepted and seized the ship.
He holds the occupation accountable for the safety of international solidarity activists aboard the Freedom ship.
The freighter is carrying 12 international activists, mostly from Sweden, including the crew of the London-based Press TV.
In related news, elder and former Chief of the Stó:lō Nation Larry Commodore has returned to Turtle Island after joining the Freedom Flotilla to challenge the illegal blockade of Gaza, in late July. Along with 21 other international participants on board the Norwegian-flagged Al Awda (The Return), Commodore was brutally attacked and kidnapped by Israeli forces in international waters, last Sunday, and unlawfully detained for four days, in Israel.
Upon his return home, he was greeted with traditional gifts of tobacco, sweetgrass and sage at Toronto Airport, on the ancestral lands of Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples, where he rested overnight. He will arrive this afternoon in Vancouver, unceded Coastal Salish territory, where he will be welcomed by family, community and friends who share his deep concern for the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and indigenous rights everywhere.
The Israeli navy intercepted a Swedish-flagged activist boat bent on breaching its more than decade-long blockade of Gaza, the second in less than a week, the military said on Saturday.
"The ship was monitored and was intercepted in accordance with international law," the army said in a statement, before the vessel, named Freedom for Gaza and carrying 12 people, was taken to the Port of Ashdod.
"The (military) clarified to the ship's passengers that they are violating the legal naval blockade and that any humanitarian merchandise can be transferred to Gaza through the Port of Ashdod," the statement said.
The people on board were taken for "further inquiry".
Freedom was the second boat of the "Freedom Flotilla" to be intercepted en route to "break the blockade" on Gaza, organisers said.
The boat was carrying medical equipment.
Four boats left from Scandinavia in mid-May and stopped in some 28 ports along the way, with two remaining behind after a recent stop in the Italian port of Palermo.
On Sunday, the Israeli navy intercepted a Norwegian-flagged activist boat that was part of the flotilla.
Israel has fought three wars with Palestinian militants in Gaza since 2008 and says the blockade is necessary to keep them from obtaining weapons or materials that could be used for military purposes.
UN officials have called for the blockade to be lifted, citing deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian enclave run by Islamist movement Hamas where 80 percent of the two million population are dependent on aid.
Swedish-flagged Flotilla Vessel Intercepted by Israel
The Israeli army Saturday morning said that it had taken over a European ship, the Swedish-flagged “Freedom,” captained by John Turnbull of Vancouver, that was aimed at breaking the naval blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip by the occupation forces 12 years ago.
After the brutal violence and theft that the Norwegian-flagged Al Awda was subjected to, just days before, Captain Turnbull had stated that the participants and crew of the Freedom will not resist if boarded.
On its website, Ship To Gaza – Sweden, published the following statement;
“We now have confirmed information that S/Y Freedom to Gaza have been boarded on international waters, by Israeli navy. Latest reported position was about 40 nautical miles of the coast of Gaza at 8.06 pm.
Onboard Freedom for Gaza was a crew of twelve persons from five different countries. They are now captured and taken to Israel against their will (For full list follow this link). The boat also carries a cargo of medical supplies.
In this situation, the demands of Ship to Gaza are that the ship with its crew and cargo will be returned to the site of the boarding, and that they will be allowed to go in peace through international and Palestinian waters in accordance to international law.
In effect, this is a demand that the eleven years-long illegal and destructive blockade on Gaza will be lifted at last. The government of Sweden have repeatedly stood behind demands on a lifting of the blockade.
We now expect that the same government, in the capacity of flag nation of the attacked vessel, will also support our specific demands regarding the ship, crew and cargo.”
Spokesman for the Israeli army stated the ship was under surveillance, and that the military had made it clear, to the activists on the ship, that they were violating the maritime blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and that “any humanitarian aid could be transferred to Gaza through the port of Ashdod.”
The ship was towed to a military base in Ashdod, and the activists were detained on board.
The spokesman added that the operation ended without any exceptional events.
The head of the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza, Zaher Birawi, stated that he had lost contact with the Swedish-flagged “Freedom,” at 10 pm on Friday, when it was approximately 40 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip.
In a statement to the press on Friday, Birawi said that the Israeli navy intercepted and seized the ship.
He holds the occupation accountable for the safety of international solidarity activists aboard the Freedom ship.
The freighter is carrying 12 international activists, mostly from Sweden, including the crew of the London-based Press TV.
In related news, elder and former Chief of the Stó:lō Nation Larry Commodore has returned to Turtle Island after joining the Freedom Flotilla to challenge the illegal blockade of Gaza, in late July. Along with 21 other international participants on board the Norwegian-flagged Al Awda (The Return), Commodore was brutally attacked and kidnapped by Israeli forces in international waters, last Sunday, and unlawfully detained for four days, in Israel.
Upon his return home, he was greeted with traditional gifts of tobacco, sweetgrass and sage at Toronto Airport, on the ancestral lands of Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples, where he rested overnight. He will arrive this afternoon in Vancouver, unceded Coastal Salish territory, where he will be welcomed by family, community and friends who share his deep concern for the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and indigenous rights everywhere.
The London-based International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza said it had lost contact with the activists onboard the Gaza-bound Swedish boat “Freedom” at 10:00 pm Friday.
In a statement, head of the committee Zaher al-Birawi expressed concern that the boat could have been exposed to hijacking by Israeli naval forces within less than 40 nautical miles from Gaza shores.
Birawi said there were 12 multinational activists, including British journalists, aboard the boat, which was also carrying a symbolic amount of medical aid.
He held the Israeli occupation regime fully responsible for the safety of the activists.
In a statement, head of the committee Zaher al-Birawi expressed concern that the boat could have been exposed to hijacking by Israeli naval forces within less than 40 nautical miles from Gaza shores.
Birawi said there were 12 multinational activists, including British journalists, aboard the boat, which was also carrying a symbolic amount of medical aid.
He held the Israeli occupation regime fully responsible for the safety of the activists.
3 aug 2018
International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza on Friday announced that the second vessel of the 2018 Freedom Flotilla is 60 miles away from Gaza shore.
Head of the committee, Zaher Birawi, in a press statement warned the Israeli naval forces against intercepting the ship and harming the activists just like what they did to al-Awda vessel which was seized by the Israeli forces a few days ago before reaching Gaza shore.
Birawi held Israel fully responsible for the safety of the international activists on Freedom vessel.
The vessel has on board 12 activists, most of whom are from Sweden, in addition to a crew from the London-based Press TV channel.
In a related context, Israel deported all 22 activists of al-Awda vessel that were detained by the Israeli naval forces Sunday, 29th July.
Head of the committee, Zaher Birawi, in a press statement warned the Israeli naval forces against intercepting the ship and harming the activists just like what they did to al-Awda vessel which was seized by the Israeli forces a few days ago before reaching Gaza shore.
Birawi held Israel fully responsible for the safety of the international activists on Freedom vessel.
The vessel has on board 12 activists, most of whom are from Sweden, in addition to a crew from the London-based Press TV channel.
In a related context, Israel deported all 22 activists of al-Awda vessel that were detained by the Israeli naval forces Sunday, 29th July.
