00:03Australian activists detained by Israel after taking part in a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza,
00:09returned to Sydney on Monday, alleging abuse and violence during their detention.
00:15The 11 Australians were among 430 activists aboard 50 vessels
00:20intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters last week
00:24while taking part in the Global Sumid Flotilla Mission to Gaza.
00:28Several activists claimed they were beaten, sexually assaulted and subjected to harsh treatment while in custody.
00:35I was dragged into a darkened container ship on a prison boat.
00:40I was sexually assaulted.
00:43I was beaten and that was just the beginning of four days of absolute hell.
00:49I've looked into the eyes of the most soulless people in the universe and nothing came back.
00:56These people need to be stopped.
00:59I have a fractured rib and bruises and cuts all over my body, but by far the worst thing was
01:06being there the whole time.
01:08Seeing and listening to my friends be punched and kicked and tasered and shot with beanbag bullets and have stun
01:23grenades thrown at them for two days on a prison ship and then for another day and a half in
01:31occupied Palestine.
01:33We were filmed by locals who were laughing, laughing at our abuse and laughing at our pain.
01:40When we were funneled onto the steps of the airplane, I actually fell.
01:43And what happened when I fell was three grown men began to stomp on my wrists and my stomach and
01:49my face as they laughed and they threw slurs at us.
01:52I want you to think when you listen to my story, think not of our pain but of those of
01:57the Palestinians.
01:58For decades and for generations they've been shouldering the brunt of their resilience and their perseverance alone.
02:07Organizers from the Global Sumed Flotilla said they had documented at least fifteen alleged cases of sexual abuse, with some
02:15incidents said to have occurred on an Israeli landing craft converted into a temporary prison.
02:20The allegations came after Israel's prison service denied claims of mistreatment, rape and sexual assault.
02:27The incident has intensified international pressure on Israel, following the circulation of a video showing far-right Israeli police minister
02:35Idamar Ben-Gvir appearing to taunt restrained activists, drawing widespread criticism.
02:41I tell the priest Israel, Taniao, give me one more than two years.
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