Belgian activists from Gaza aid flotilla have arrived in Turkey
The pro-Palestinian activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla who were deported by Israel landed at Istanbul International Airport on Thursday. The Belgian branch of the organisation confirmed that the seven people of Belgian nationality have also landed in Istanbul. Some of them have already spoken out about the violent treatment to which they were subjected.
The activists travelled on an initial flight. The Turkish ministry of Foreign Affairs is arranging two further flights from Ramon Airport, near Eilat in southern Israel, to fly the rest of the group over.
Among the 430 activists are seven Belgians. The Belgian branch of the organisation confirmed that they too have landed safely in Istanbul. The activists will first undergo a medical check-up and receive any necessary care, before flying on to Belgium.
Some of the Belgian activists have already spoken out about the violent treatment they received, among them Julien Cabral (57). On Monday, members of the Israeli forces intercepted them in international waters. “They first jammed our communications, then boarded the ship with rifles and fired plastic bullets, just for fun,” stated Cabral. “They intervened with great violence even though we all had our hands in the air.” Cabral said he “was punched on the left temple”.
“Then they transferred us, still using violence, with our hands bound by plastic ties, onto this prison ship, into containers. I heard them say, ‘let’s have some fun’. For three days, we asked to see a doctor, but they replied, ‘later, later’... They even confiscated the medication of someone suffering from epilepsy.”
Disembarked on Wednesday and taken away in prison vans, crammed together, they were thrown into cells, “the handcuffs still too tight, bent double for hours: we couldn’t see a thing, they were pressing down on the back of our necks,” he declared. “And they kept on slapping us, insulting us... People were laughing, playing the Israeli national anthem.” On Thursday morning, they were finally transferred to Ramon Airport. “There, we were subjected to more insults.”
The activist hopes to return to Belgium on Friday, after seeing one of the doctors who were waiting for the evacuees.
A member of the Gaza aid flotilla is loaded into an ambulance following the group's arrival at Istanbul Airport © PHOTO Ozan KOSE / AFP
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