![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-17-1024x1024.png\")
Hasnain Jafer, Vice President Education (Health). Image courtesy of KCLSU<\/p>\n
Jafer spoke tearfully to the press<\/a> upon arrival in T\u00fcrkiye, stating that the betrayal he feels from his government \u201cgoes beyond every single level\u201d. He called on viewers to \u201cforget what has happened to us [the GSF activists]\u201d and instead focus on Palestinian prisoners who \u201ccontinue to suffer every single day for the past 78 years\u201d. He further urged \u201cevery single person to stand up\u201d against \u201cthe ludicrous and disgusting oppression.\u201d<\/p>\n The treatment of the GSF detainees garnered international attention after Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel\u2019s Minister of National Security, published a video taunting activists with their hands zip-tied behind their backs and kneeling on the ground.<\/p>\n Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right party Otzma Yehudit who was last year sanctioned by the United Kingdom<\/a> for repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, was seen in the video taunting activists and exclaiming, \u201cwelcome to Israel, we are the landlords\u201d and asking the Israeli prime minister to send them \u201cto the terrorist prisons\u201d.<\/p>\n A female detainee was also seen shouting \u201cFree Palestine\u201d before being pushed to the ground by security.<\/p>\n The footage provoked sharp backlash domestically and globally. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> condemned the scenes as \u201cnot in line with Israel\u2019s values and norms\u201d, and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper<\/a> said that the treatment of the activists \u201cviolates the most basic standards of respect and dignity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Several activists arriving at Istanbul Airport alleged violence and torture during their time in Israeli detention. Prominent Brazilian activist Thiago \u00c1vila<\/a> claimed that Israeli forces \u201cbeat me until I lost consciousness\u201d and that everyone was \u201csubjected to severe violations\u201d.<\/p>\n American activist Alex Colston<\/a> claimed that in one of the prison boats, around \u201c35 people suffered fractures of their ribs\u201d. Colston revealed that he was kept in cuffs, where he can no longer feel his hands and was kicked in the ribs \u201cmultiple times.\u201d<\/p>\n The Israel Prison Service rejected<\/a> the allegations and described them as false.<\/p>\n Protests in support of Jafer and the activists and condemning the responses of King\u2019s College London and KCLSU to the detention continued on 21 May, with a demonstration led by KCL Stands 4 Justice marching from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Whitehall to KCL\u2019s Strand Campus in the afternoon. <\/p>\n A KCLSU spokesperson told Roar that they \u201care relieved to hear of Hasnain\u2019s release, and remain focused on his safety and wellbeing. <\/p>\n \u201cTogether with King\u2019s College London, we have been in contact with the FCDO this week, and will continue to offer appropriate support to ensure his safe return to the UK\u201d. <\/p>\n Speaking to Roar, an anonymous protester said that they were \u201cabhorred to see that Hasnain Jafer had been illegally kidnapped\u2026 and held hostage\u201d \u2013 a characterisation Israel disputes. <\/p>\n
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Pro-Palestine student protesters demonstrate outside Bush House in support of Jafer. Photo courtesy of Zaynab Ali<\/p>\n