Abducted flotilla members Hassan, Avila and others released and leaving Israel

Last two abductees will fly home tomorrow, none have signed any documents demanded by Israel, despite threats of violence

French European Parliament member Rima Hassan has been released and is leaving Israel days after being abducted by Israeli forces, along with her fellow crew members of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla humanitarian vessel Madleen, in a ramming attack in international waters as they tried to deliver medicines and baby formula to Palestinians suffering under Israel’s starvation blockade of Gaza.

Palestinian activist Lema updated supporters about Hassan’s release:

Rima is at the Ben Gurion airport now, heading back to Paris, where thousands are waiting to welcome her. But this time, Rima returns with firsthand experience of what Israel’s prison system really looks like. She was arrested. She was locked in a cell. She faced the intimidation, the psychological pressure, the cold walls, the isolation.

She now knows exactly how Palestinian detainees are treated and how the so-called Israeli justice system operates. This experience has only strengthened her. Rima is more determined than ever to speak out for Palestinian prisoners, to expose the conditions of detention, and to challenge the kangaroo courts used to punish Palestinians under occupation.

She lived it. She saw it. And she will not stay silent

Five other abductees are also said to be flying out today, including Brazilian organiser Thiago Avila, who had been on hunger strike since his kidnapping in the early hours of Monday morning. Hassan’s fellow French crew members Yanis Mhamdi and Pasqual Maurieras, the last to leave, will fly home tomorrow under an expulsion order from an Israeli court. Hassan will address supporters and activists at a rally in the Place de la République in Paris at 9 this evening.

Despite threats of violence from Israeli guards – including one reportedly telling Hassan that he would ‘smash your head against a wall if you don’t sign’ – none are believed to have signed any documents admitting to wrongdoing or illegally entering Israel. Israel’s claims earlier this week, that Greta Thunberg and three others released sooner had signed, have been exposed as false.

Thousands of anti-genocide protesters are currently en route via Egypt to the Rafah crossing to try to release tens of thousands of tonnes of blocked food and essentials held by Israel at the border. The ‘Global March to Gaza’ continues despite the Egyptian government detaining some marchers.

Israel continues to starve, shoot and bomb around two million surviving Palestinians, to a complete lack of meaningful action – apart from the pantomime of personal sanctions against two far-right government ministers – from the UK government, which continues to refuse to condemn Israel’s attack on the Madleen as illegal, despite its clear status as piracy under international maritime law. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has ordered his department not to seek legal advice from FCDO lawyers on any statements about Israel’s attack on the vessel and the British military are providing active assistance in Israel’s genocide.

Please remember to support Skwawkbox if you can, to help ensure it can keep running. The site is provided free of charge but depends on the support of its readers to be viable. If you’d like to help it keep revealing the news as it is and not what the Establishment wants you to hear – and can afford to without hardship – please click here to arrange a one-off or modest monthly donation via PayPal or here to set up a monthly donation via GoCardless (Skwawkbox will contact you to confirm the GoCardless amount as it has to be entered by us). Alternatively, if you prefer to make a one-off or recurring donation by simple card payment, please use the form below:

Thanks for your solidarity so Skwawkbox can keep doing its job of inconveniencing the right and helping to build the left!

If you wish to republish this post for non-commercial use, you are welcome to do so, but please include the donor information above – see here for more.