An American human rights activist detained after Israeli forces raided the Handala ship in international waters has alleged physical assault at the hands of Israeli authorities, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
Chris Smalls, a labor organizer from the US, was among those abducted during Saturday’s interception of the vessel en route to Gaza. In a statement released Monday, the FFC said Smalls was “choked and kicked” in the legs by seven Israeli officers upon his arrival at detention.
“Smalls had visible signs of violence to his neck and back,” the coalition said, adding that his treatment was harsher than that of other detainees. During a legal visit, Smalls was reportedly surrounded by six members of Israel’s special police unit, an unprecedented security measure the committee interpreted as racially discriminatory.
“The Freedom Flotilla Coalition condemns this violence against Chris and demands accountability for the assault,” the group said, attributing the violence to “discriminatory treatment.”
The Israeli occupation army intercepted the Handala, a repurposed 1968 Norwegian fishing vessel, on July 26 as it sailed toward the blockaded Gaza Strip. The ship had departed Italy earlier this month carrying international volunteers as part of the latest Freedom Flotilla initiative, aimed at challenging Israel’s maritime blockade on Gaza.
According to the legal advocacy group Adalah, 14 activists remained in Israeli custody as of Tuesday morning. Seven were scheduled for deportation, but delays—linked to what Adalah described as attempts by Israeli authorities to force activists to sign undisclosed documents—cast doubt over their release.
The remaining detainees, including Smalls, are held at Givon prison in Ramla. In its statement, Adalah described their detention conditions as “harsh and degrading,” nothing that they had entered their fourth day of hunger strike to protest their unlawful detention.
“The male detainees reported violent cell searches by prison service forces not wearing uniforms” Adalah said, adding that all detainees were being kept in small, overcrowded rooms without ventilation, despite temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius (93 Fahrenheit).
Detainees also complained of being denied access to basic hygiene supplies, showers, and fresh air. Some said their rooms were infested with bedbugs.
The Handala is the latest civilian vessel intercepted by Israeli forces while attempting to reach Gaza. In June, Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla vessel Madleen, detaining 12 civilians who were attempting to deliver medical supplies and messages of solidarity to Gaza.
A month before intercepting the Madleen, Israel reportedly used drones to strike another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the Conscience, which was sailing near Malta en route to Gaza.
Named after the iconic cartoon figure created by Palestinian artist Naji Al-Ali, the Handala joined the Freedom Flotilla in 2023 and has since participated in global solidarity missions. The ship’s latest voyage, launched from Italy on July 13, carried the slogan “For the Children of Gaza.”
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition emerged in 2010 following Turkish-led efforts to challenge the Gaza blockade. Its founding organizations include the Free Gaza Movement and the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza.
The most prominent mission to date remains the 2010 sailing of the Mavi Marmara, which was raided by Israeli forces, leaving 10 activists dead and dozens wounded.
