Three Finnish activists detained by Israeli authorities after attempting to reach Gaza aboard an aid flotilla returned to Finland on Saturday and accused Israeli forces of physical abuse, degrading treatment and prolonged detention in harsh conditions.
The activists arrived at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport shortly after 2pm on a flight from Turkey after being deported by Israel. Dozens of supporters gathered at the arrivals hall carrying Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine” as the activists emerged from the terminal and embraced relatives and supporters.
Israel illegally intercepted the flotilla earlier this week as it attempted to approach Gaza. More than 300 activists from several countries were detained during the operation, including Finnish nationals Ämäl Salih, Emmy Snickars and Tero Mononen.
The Israeli foreign ministry said on Thursday that all foreign activists detained during the operation had been deported from the country.
According to the Turkish foreign ministry, 422 activists were flown from southern Israel to Ankara following the detentions.
At a press conference in Helsinki after returning home, the Finnish activists described conditions during detention that they said amounted to inhumane treatment.
Salih said detainees spent several days in open detention areas built from shipping containers. “We experienced inhumane treatment from the moment of arrest,” Salih told reporters.
She said detainees were deprived of sleep and held in wet conditions without proper bedding. “We were completely soaked. Water and hoses were used constantly in the area. We had no mattresses and we slept in shipping containers,” she said.
Salih stated that detainees were exposed to direct sunlight during the day without shelter and that some activists suffered burns.
She also said that food and water supplies were restricted. “Some loaves of bread were thrown to us and part of them were mouldy,” she said.
According to Salih, overcrowding and poor sanitation worsened conditions inside the detention area.
“There were far too few toilets for the number of people. There were 200 people in the sea prison and the conditions became unbearable,” she said.
Finnish broadcaster MTV reported that Salih also accused Israeli personnel of using physical and sexual violence against detainees.
Asked by MTV News to clarify the allegation, Salih said some activists were kicked, restrained with zip ties and forced into painful positions.
“We were pushed to the ground and against walls and held in extremely uncomfortable positions,” she said.
She also alleged repeated strip searches and unwanted touching at checkpoints.
“I personally avoided the worst violence, but many of our friends experienced harsher treatment,” she said.
Earlier this week, Finland’s foreign ministry stated that it had no indication that the detained Finnish nationals faced immediate danger to life or health.
The ministry also criticised footage published after the arrests by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The video showed detained activists kneeling on the deck of a vessel with their hands tied behind their backs.
Finnish authorities said they did not accept the treatment shown in the footage and requested clarification from Israel regarding the handling of Finnish citizens.
HT