French Activist Reports Abuse During Israeli Detention
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Maryem Hadjal, a French activist with the global “Samud” flotilla, stated that she and other participants were subjected to beatings and sexual abuse by Israeli regime forces during their detention. Hadjal, a member of the French “Waves of Freedom” association, was part of the spring 2026 “Samud” global flotilla mission.
On May 18, Israeli regime forces reportedly attacked their boat in international waters, abducting and detaining all individuals on board, including Hadjal. Speaking to Anadolu Agency in Paris, the 38-year-old activist explained her mission’s objectives were to break the illegal blockade of Gaza, protest ongoing “genocide,” and establish a humanitarian corridor.
Hadjal described the seizure of their boat around 3 PM on Monday, May 18, stating that an Israeli military vessel approached without prior warning. “We had life vests on and our hands were up,” she recounted. Israeli forces then bound the men’s hands and transferred all activists to a military ship.
Upon boarding the ship, violence immediately ensued, according to Hadjal. All activists were forced to kneel with their hands tied, and their warm clothing was removed, leaving them with only t-shirts and trousers on the wet deck under intense pressure.
She further alleged that the ship contained several compartments, referred to by activists as “dark rooms,” where they endured beatings, torture, and sexual assault. “The torture and violence were unimaginable. We were beaten and sexually assaulted,” Hadjal stated. She also reported hearing the screams of other activists during the detention, experiencing intense fear.
Hadjal added that some activists suffered broken ribs, noting that Israeli forces seemed to target non-white individuals more frequently. The activist also criticized the lack of an official reception in France upon their return, stating that the country had ignored them. This report relies on information initially published by the Mehr News Agency, citing Anadolu Agency.
