Flotilla workers exposed to torture, humiliation in Israeli detention

Another 29 workers from the Sumud Flotilla have been deported, the Israeli foreign minister said, adding that 170 of the more than 450 workers arrested so far have been deported.

Aid workers have revealed abuse in Israeli detention after returning home after being deported from Israel.

The aid workers said on their return to Italy that they were harassed by the Israeli army and police and were also deprived of medicine.

Italian activist Cesare Toufani said upon arriving in Rome, “We were mistreated. After the army, the Israeli police also harassed us”.

The president of the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy said, “We were treated violently and guns were pointed at us”.

Another flotilla worker said that the Israeli army first tied both of his hands and then kept him in a freezing room for six hours, and that he was treated even more harshly because he was a journalist.

Flotilla activist describes Israel’s 'TORTURE' of Gaza aid crew

Says he spent 6 HOURS with hands behind his back in freezing room, 'like a morgue'

'I'm a journalist and they were even harsher with me' https://t.co/UQjPtbgXHx pic.twitter.com/Mi94hKBlkv

— RT (@RT_com) October 5, 2025

Italian journalist Saverio Tomasi said that the activists were ridiculed during their detention, even though they included global environmental activist Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela's grandson, and members of the European Parliament.

Another Italian journalist, Lorenzo D'Agostino, revealed that Israeli authorities confiscated their belongings and money.

It is pertinent to note that more than 450 aid workers from the Global Sumud flotilla carrying aid to Gaza were arrested by the Israeli navy.