Cork Activist Describes Harrowing Detention After Gaza Flotilla Arrest

Cork grandfather and activist Paddy O’Donovan has recounted the appalling conditions he faced while detained in Israel after being arrested as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The flotilla, consisting of 42 boats, was intercepted last week, leading to the arrest of all those on board, including 16 Irish citizens.

Mr. O’Donovan, aged 61, described his experience in a cell that was overcrowded and reeked of urine. For several days, he claimed that he and his fellow detainees were provided only with dirty water to drink. He recounted being woken repeatedly at night by guards brandishing machine guns, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. “At times you thought you were going to be shot,” he stated.

During the day, Mr. O’Donovan shared that he was confined in a cage under the sun, surrounded by armed guards and dogs. He vividly remembered the moment when the flotilla was attacked: “They sank my boat out at sea,” he said. He described the scene as chaotic, with Israeli forces boarding their vessel and systematically sabotaging it while pointing guns at the crew.

“They forced us down below deck and started cutting the pipes from the seawater into the engine,” Mr. O’Donovan explained. “They just told us to stay where we were. We were inside the boat and they had machine guns on us.”

After being apprehended, he and other detainees were transported to a port where they were restrained and subjected to humiliating treatment. “It was barbaric. I’ve never experienced the like of it,” he said. Alongside Mr. O’Donovan, well-known figures such as climate activist Greta Thunberg and Mandla Mandela, the grandson of the late South African leader, were among those arrested in connection to the flotilla.

In total, approximately 450 activists were detained by Israeli authorities. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated it had offered voluntary deportation to the activists. Mr. O’Donovan expressed relief upon returning to Ireland but emphasized the plight of Palestinian prisoners in Ketsiot Prison, who he claimed endure far worse conditions.

“They [Israeli guards] seem to take delight in torturing people,” Mr. O’Donovan remarked. He described conditions in the cells as dire, noting that they were often overcrowded, with as many as 17 individuals crammed into spaces designed for eight.

“They wouldn’t give us our medication,” he added, highlighting the lack of medical care. Detainees, including those requiring insulin, received no assistance. In protest, Mr. O’Donovan initiated a hunger strike, which lasted the entirety of his five-day detention. He noted that those on hunger strike were mockingly served meals that looked more appealing than what the other detainees received.

The cell had only one tap that produced dirty water and a single toilet, contributing to the inhumane environment. “It was all psychological torture,” he stated. Despite his suffering, he insisted that it paled in comparison to the treatment of Palestinian prisoners, who he claimed faced even more brutal conditions.

“Those poor people are suffering. Their treatment is just horrific,” Mr. O’Donovan concluded. He described witnessing Palestinian prisoners bound and blindfolded, enduring mistreatment from guards who appeared to revel in their suffering. As the ordeal drew to a close, Mr. O’Donovan noted a shift in the guards’ demeanor, suggesting they were aware that their actions would soon come to light.

The accounts shared by Mr. O’Donovan shed light on the severe realities faced by activists in conflict zones, raising questions about the treatment of detainees and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.