Latest news with #TaniaSafi
The Independent
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Freedom Flotilla activists say they were ‘brutalised psychologically' by Israeli military after aid boat boarded
Two Australian activists have claimed they were 'brutalised psychologically' by the Israeli military, strip-searched and shackled, after their Freedom Flotilla boat was intercepted. Journalist Tania Safi and activist Robert Martin were detained while onboard the Handala, which was seeking to deliver aid to Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. After their arrest alongside 19 other activists on Sunday, the pair were transported to Israel and spent days in Israeli custody, where they allege they were manhandled and treated like criminals. The Handala was carrying 21 civilians representing 12 countries - including the UK - with parliamentarians, lawyers, journalists, environmentalists, and other human rights defenders among them. It was carrying aid including baby formula, nappies, food, and medicine for the Gaza strip, where a starvation crisis has prompted international outcry after dozens of Palestinians died from hunger-related causes in recent weeks. Experts, the UN, and other countries say Israeli blockades caused the crisis. The Israeli government says Hamas is at fault and has accused the Palestinian militants of stealing food from aid trucks. The two Australian activists landed back in Sydney on Friday morning, where they spoke to reporters about their ordeal. Ms Safi said at least 30 IDF members boarded Handala when it was intercepted, and claimed all were armed, some with four guns. 'They knocked me in the leg with one of their machine guns,' Ms Safi said of the moment around 30 IDF soldiers boarded the Handala after it was intercepted, speaking to The Guardian. After being taken to the port of Ashdod south of Tel Aviv, the group was taken to interrogation rooms. Ms Safi supported earlier allegations by the group that Chris Smalls, the former president of the Amazon Labour Union who was onboard the Handala, was physically assaulted by IDF troops. 'Chris was pinned down by seven or eight men,' she told the outlet. 'When I asked about him they came into the room and dragged me out by my arms, I'm still bruised from it. 'They pulled me out and threw me down on the floor, they made me take off all my clothes, they strip-searched me right there, made me squat up and down … they treated us like we were criminals.' Ms Safi, who said she witnessed 'the soullessness and the cruelty and brutality' of Israeli detention, added that soldiers would 'handcuff me and grab the handcuffs and just throw me against the wall'. She said the military tried to get the Handala activists to sign documents which said they had entered Israel illegally, which Ms Safi says is 'not true… we were taken completely against our will and brutalised psychologically in every way'. Mr Martin alleged he was not allowed any of the medication that he required, nor was he allowed to make any phone calls to loved ones and 'anybody else' - despite the Australian government demanding to Israel that they were allowed to do so. They were eventually transported to Jordan, where they were assisted by the Australian embassy and taken to hospital, he added. The Handala incident came nearly two months after the Madleen, a Freedom Flotilla with Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on board, was intercepted by the Israeli army on 9 June. The IDF has been contacted for comment. In a statement on X after the boat was seized, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the military had prevented the boat from 'illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza'. It added: 'The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe. Unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts.' Regarding the alleged assault on Mr Smalls, the Israeli foreign ministry told The Guardian on Thursday: 'Contrary to the claims made, the passenger violently resisted. This was a planned provocation intended to create media attention.'
Arab News
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Australian activists reveal ‘brutal' treatment after being detained by Israel
LONDON: A pair of Australian pro-Palestine activists have complained of being 'brutalized psychologically' after the boat they were on was stopped by the Israeli military trying to reach Gaza, The Guardian reported on Friday. Tania Safi, Robert Martin and 19 others were detained aboard the boat, named Handala, as it tried to deliver aid as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Safi and Martin said they were treated 'like criminals' after their arrest, including being shackled and subjected to strip-searches. After arriving back in Australia on Friday, Safi told reporters: 'It feels like a bit of a dream at the moment to be honest … It's been a rough ride.' She added: 'We were dehydrated and exhausted. We've been disconnected from the world.' Safi said the Handala was boarded by at least 30 Israeli soldiers, all heavily armed, and they tried to film the activists receiving assistance from them. 'They were playing this odd psychological game of offering water and food with the camera crew, trying to get us to accept things from them, but none of us would,' she said. 'We don't want to take anything from an entity that is starving babies to death.' The activists were taken to the city of Ashdod, where they had their possessions confiscated and were placed in an interrogation room. One of them, US citizen Chris Smalls, was assaulted by Israeli soldiers. 'Chris, the only black man, was pinned down by seven or eight men,' Safi said. 'When I asked about him, they came into the room and dragged me out by my arms. I'm still bruised from it. 'They pulled me out and threw me down on the floor, they made me take off all my clothes, they strip-searched me right there, made me squat up and down … They treated us like we were criminals.' Safi continued: 'In these prisons, we saw face-to-face the soullessness and the cruelty and brutality.' She added: 'There were moments where they'd handcuff me and grab the handcuffs and just throw me against the wall.' Martin told reporters: 'We had no rights … I have a lot of medication — they didn't allow any medication at all.' He added: 'The Australian government demanded I be able to make phone calls to my loved ones — they didn't allow me to do that either, (or) anybody else.' The duo were eventually taken to Jordan where, after receiving diplomatic support and a medical evaluation, they were deemed unfit to fly due to the physical condition their ordeal had left them in. Safi said after she was hooked up to an IV drip, 'I just passed out and slept for like 16 hours.' She added: 'I couldn't sleep (in prison) … They shine the torch in your face until you wake up, or they bang on the door every time you fall asleep. 'We didn't commit any crimes. They tried to get us to sign documents that said we'd entered Israel illegally, which isn't true … We were taken completely against our will and brutalized psychologically in every way.' The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has sent a number of vessels in a bid to deliver aid to Gaza and raise awareness of the dire situation facing Palestinian civilians trapped in the enclave. On June 9, the last boat to make the journey, the Madleen, was stopped by Israel in international waters. Twelve campaigners were arrested, including Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
The Guardian
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australian activists allege they were ‘brutalised psychologically' after Israeli military detained Gaza aid boat
Two Australian activists say they were 'brutalised psychologically' and treated 'like criminals' by the Israeli military, including being strip-searched, shackled and denied external communication, after a boat they were on was intercepted and detained while attempting to transport aid to Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The journalist Tania 'Tan' Safi and human rights activist Robert Martin were among 21 activists on board the Handala when it was intercepted on Sunday and transported to Israel. It had carried food, baby formula, nappies and medicine, as Palestinians continue to starve in what UN-backed hunger experts have called a 'worst-case scenario of famine' unfolding. On Friday morning local time, the Australians landed at Sydney airport after spending days in Israeli custody. Safi told reporters they were still 'a little bit wobbly' and felt 'very sore and weak'. The Handala crew had previously confirmed they would go on a hunger strike if the Israel Defense Forces intercepted the boat and detained its passengers. 'It feels like a bit of a dream at the moment to be honest … it's been a rough ride,' Safi said. 'We were dehydrated and exhausted. We've been disconnected from the world.' Safi said at least 30 IDF members boarded Handala when it was intercepted, and claimed all were armed, some with four guns. 'They knocked me in the leg with one of their machine guns,' Safi said. 'They were playing this odd psychological game of offering water and food with the camera crew, trying to get us to accept things from them, but none of us would. We don't want to take anything from an entity that is starving babies to death.' Sign up: AU Breaking News email Safi said that after arriving at the port of Ashdod, about 40km south of Tel Aviv, their bags were taken and they were placed in an interrogation room. Many items were still missing, they said. They confirmed reports that US labour activist Chris Smalls was physically assaulted by the IDF – including being choked and kicked in the legs. 'Chris, the only black man, was pinned down by seven or eight men,' Safi said. 'When I asked about him they came into the room and dragged me out by my arms, I'm still bruised from it. 'They pulled me out and threw me down on the floor, they made me take off all my clothes, they strip-searched me right there, made me squat up and down … they treated us like we were criminals.' Eventually, Safi said they were able to see someone from the Australian embassy, who lobbied for the pair to be able to contact their friends and family and to access legal representation. 'In these prisons, we saw face-to-face the soullessness and the cruelty and brutality,' Safi said, adding that they had woken to the sounds of a fellow inmate 'howling and screaming and crying in pain'. 'There were moments where they would handcuff me and grab the handcuffs and just throw me against the wall.' Martin said he had been 'manhandled' along with a few others when initially demanding legal representation. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'We had no rights … I have a lot of medication, they didn't allow any medication at all,' he said. 'The Australian government demanded I be able to make phone calls to my loved ones, they did not allow me to do that either, and anybody else.' Eventually, Martin said, the pair were shackled and transported from Tel Aviv to Jordan. In Jordan, they received assistance from the embassy and were taken to hospital, where they were temporarily deemed unfit to fly due to their weak condition. 'We thought they were going to just dump us there, that was very, very scary for us, not knowing, having no phone, no money, no access to anything,' Martin said. Safi said they did not realise how poor their condition was until they were hooked up to the IV in hospital and told they were 'really unwell'. 'I just passed out and slept for like 16 hours,' Safi said. 'I couldn't sleep [in prison] … they shine the torch in your face until you wake up, or they bang on the door every time you fall asleep. 'We did not commit any crimes. They tried to get us to sign documents that said we had entered Israel illegally, which is not true … we were taken completely against our will and brutalised psychologically in every way.' The last boat sent by Freedom Flotilla, the Madleen, was intercepted by the Israeli army in international waters on 9 June and towed to Ashdod. It carried 12 campaigners on board, including the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who were eventually expelled by Israel. In 2010, nine flotilla activists en route to Gaza on board the Mavi Marmara flagship vessel were shot a total of 30 times by Israeli soldiers. Five were killed by close-range gunshot wounds to the head. The Israeli embassy in Canberra and Israeli ministry for foreign affairs were approached for comment.
The Guardian
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australian activists allege they were ‘brutalised psychologically' after Israeli military detained Gaza aid boat
Two Australian activists say they were 'brutalised psychologically' and treated 'like criminals' by the Israeli military, including being strip-searched, shackled and denied external communication, after a boat they were on was intercepted and detained while attempting to transport aid to Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Journalist Tania 'Tan' Safi and human rights activist Robert Martin were among 21 activists on board the Handala when it was intercepted on Sunday and transported to Israel. It had carried food, baby formula, nappies and medicine, as Palestinians continue to starve in what UN-backed hunger experts have called a 'worst-case scenario of famine' unfolding. Sign up: AU Breaking News email On Friday morning local time, the Australians landed at Sydney airport after spending days in Israeli custody. Safi told reporters they were still 'a little bit wobbly' and felt 'very sore and weak'. The Handala crew had previously confirmed they would go on a hunger strike if the IDF intercepted the boat and detained its passengers. 'It feels like a bit of a dream at the moment to be honest … it's been a rough ride,' Safi said. 'We were dehydrated and exhausted. We've been disconnected from the world.' Safi said at least 30 IDF members boarded Handala when it was intercepted, and claimed all were armed, some with four guns. 'They knocked me in the leg with one of their machine guns,' Safi said. 'They were playing this odd psychological game of offering water and food with the camera crew, trying to get us to accept things from them, but none of us would. 'We don't want to take anything from an entity that is starving babies to death.' Safi said after arriving at the port of Ashdod, about 40km south of Tel Aviv, their bags were taken and they were placed in an interrogation room. Many items were still missing, she said. They confirmed reports that US labor activist Chris Smalls was physically assaulted by the IDF – including being choked and kicked in the legs. 'Chris, the only black man, was pinned down by seven or eight men,' Safi said. 'When I asked about him they came into the room and dragged me out by my arms, I'm still bruised from it. 'They pulled me out and threw me down on the floor, they made me take off all my clothes, they strip-searched me right there, made me squat up and down … they treated us like we were criminals.' Eventually Safi said they were able to see someone from the Australian embassy, who lobbied for the pair to be able to contact their friends and family and to access legal representation. 'In these prisons, we saw face-to-face the soullessness and the cruelty and brutality,' Safi said, adding that they had awoken to the sounds of a fellow inmate 'howling and screaming and crying in pain'. 'There were moments where they would handcuff me and grab the handcuffs and just throw me against the wall.' Martin said he had been 'manhandled' along with a few others when initially demanding legal representation. 'We had no rights … I have a lot of medication, they didn't allow any medication at all,' he said. 'The Australian government demanded I be able to make phone calls to my loved ones, they did not allow me to do that either, and anybody else.' Eventually, Martin said, the pair were shackled and transported from Tel Aviv to Jordan. In Jordan, they received assistance from the embassy and were taken to hospital, where they were temporarily deemed unfit to fly due to their weak condition. 'We thought they were going to just dump us there, that was very, very scary for us not knowing, having no phone, no money, no access to anything,' Martin said. Safi said they didn't realise how poor their condition was until they were hooked up to the IV in hospital and told they were 'really unwell'. 'I just passed out and slept for like 16 hours,' Safi said. 'I couldn't sleep [in prison] … they shine the torch in your face until you wake up, or they bang on the door every time you fall asleep. 'We did not commit any crimes. They tried to get us to sign documents that said we had entered Israel illegally, which is not true … we were taken completely against our will and brutalised psychologically in every way.' The last boat sent by Freedom Flotilla, the Madleen, was intercepted by the Israeli army in international waters on 9 June and towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod. It carried 12 campaigners on board, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who were eventually expelled by Israel. In 2010, nine flotilla activists en route to Gaza on board the Mavi Marmara flagship vessel were shot a total of 30 times by Israeli soldiers. Five were killed by close-range gunshot wounds to the head. The Israeli embassy in Canberra and Israeli ministry for foreign affairs were approached for comment.
Daily Mail
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Two Australians revealed to be among boatload of Freedom Flotilla activists detained at gunpoint by Israeli special forces as they tried to sail to Gaza
Australians are among a group of activists detained by Israel after their ship was boarded when it tried to sail to Gaza. Journalist Tania Safi and human rights activist Robert Martin both appeared in short pre-recorded videos speaking of their capture, which were released by the Freedom Flotilla group after the ship was boarded. Israeli forces intercepted the activist ship 'Handala' on Saturday with a livestream broadcast by the pro-Palestinian campaign group showing armed soldiers boarding the vessel. About 20 activists onboard could be seen sitting on the ship's deck, holding their hands up and whistling the Italian anti-fascist song 'Bella Ciao'. Three live video feeds of the scene, broadcast online, were cut minutes later. The Handala had been on course to try to break an Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and bring a small quantity of humanitarian aid to the territory's Palestinian residents. An online tracking tool set up to plot the boat's path showed its position as around 30 miles from the Egyptian coast and roughly 60 miles west of Gaza when intercepted. There was no immediate confirmation of the operation from the Israeli military. But earlier in the day it had announced it would enforce 'the legal maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip'. . In another message on social media, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition declared: ''Handala' has been intercepted and boarded illegally by Israeli forces whilst in international waters.' 'We must stop asking for permission to enter a death camp. I did not leave the United Nations to abandon its founding principles. I left to live them, to act on them. 'The UN Charter stands for the dignity, freedom, and security of all peoples. So why, when these very rights are being obliterated, do we still see no meaningful response? 'This is a genocide. That is not just rhetoric - it is supported by reports, testimonies, and lived reality. 'And yet, no real consequences have followed. My resignation is not an act of walking away. It is an act of stepping up. 'Because human dignity is not protected by procedures alone, but by personal and institutional courage. 'When we carry food and medicine to Palestinians in Gaza and are told to turn back, it's not just a failure of politics. It's a failure of our moral architecture. 'This flotilla is not a threat. And Gaza is not a 'crisis' to be managed. Palestine is a mirror - reflecting both our humanity and the failure of our institutions to uphold it. 'To those still within the United Nations and other bodies: This responsibility is not only for activists, for those outside. You hold tools. You have a voice. 'Stop waiting for the perfect mandate to do what is already right. 'Neutrality in the face of mass death is not diplomacy. It is abandonment. Let Gaza live. Let the mirror change us.' Two French MPs, Emma Fourreau and Gabrielle Cathala, were among those detained on the Handala on Saturday. Their party leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon of France Unbowed (LFI), condemned Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu. 'Netanyahu's thugs boarded Handala. They attack 21 unarmed people in territorial waters where they have no right. 'A kidnapping in which two French parliamentarians are victims', he posted on X. Mr Melenchon demanded the French government take action. Thiago Avila, a Brazilian activist who had been onboard the last FFC boat sent to Gaza, the Madleen, posted about the Handala's interception late on Saturday evening. He said: 'The Handala has just been illegally intercepted by the Zionist entity of Israel while carrying baby formula to starving children.' Gaza is facing severe shortages of food and other essentials, with the UN and NGOs warning of an imminent famine. The Handala's crew said in a post on X they would go on a hunger strike if the Israeli army intercepted the boat and detained its passengers. The Madleen was intercepted by the Israeli army in international waters on June 9 and towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod. It carried 12 campaigners on board, including prominent Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. These activists were eventually expelled by Israel. The interception of the Handala comes after Israel 's military said air drops of aid will begin on Saturday night in Gaza and humanitarian corridors will be established for UN convoys. It has yet to outline when the corridors would open or where - but added it is prepared to implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas. Gaza's population of more than two million people is facing severe shortages of food and other essentials after some 21 months of war - particularly after Israel enacted a more than two-month-long blockade of the embattled Strip from March until May. Previously, the UN condemned Israel's 'weaponisation of food' in Gaza, labelling it a war crime. And on Monday, the UK, France and more than twenty other Western-aligned countries issued labelling Israel's operations 'unacceptable'. It comes after the UN's human rights office reported Israeli forces had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food at aid distribution points since the US - and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) - started its operations in late May. GHF rejected the statistics, describing them as 'false and exaggerated statistics' from the UN. An anonymous Israeli security official claimed Hamas were responsible for fabricating 'cynical' reports of mass starvation in Gaza to The Times of Israel. Charities operating in Gaza have said Israel's blockade and ongoing military offensive are pushing people there towards starvation. They have warned they are seeing their own workers and Palestinians 'waste away'. It comes as Israeli airstrikes and gunshots killed at least 53 people on Friday night into Saturday, with most shot dead while seeking aid, according to Palestinian health officials and the local ambulance service. Israeli gunfire was reported twice within hours close to the Zikim crossing, and least a dozen people were killed while waiting for aid trucks in the first incident, staff at a Shifa hospital said. Israel's military said it fired warning shots to distance a crowd 'in response to an immediate threat' and it was not aware of any casualties. A witness, Sherif Abu Aisha, said people started running when they saw a light that they thought was from aid trucks. But as they neared, they realised it was Israel's tanks - and the army began to open fire, killing several people including his uncle, he said. 'We went because there is no food... and nothing was distributed', he said.
