The Ketziot maximum-security prison, located in the Negev Desert near the border between Israel and Egypt, has once again captured international attention. This prison, historic for its role in the first Palestinian Intifada, now houses the activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla, who were attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip. The activists were apprehended by the Israeli navy and transferred to Ketziot, where they are appearing before a special immigration court. Lawyer Suhad Bishara, from the Adalah organization, denounces the lack of legal representation during the initial hearings and highlights the 'anomalous' nature of this judicial process created exclusively for them.
As the hearings unfold, international pressure grows, and several countries, including Spain, ensure consular assistance to their detained citizens. The conditions of the arrest, although less severe than in other documented cases of abuse against Palestinians, include verbal humiliations by Israeli political figures, such as the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Meanwhile, a new fleet named 'Thousand Madleens to Gaza' advances toward the Palestinian Strip, evidencing that the struggle to break the blockade remains active. Meanwhile, four Italian parliamentarians have been released, but hundreds of activists remain in Ketziot, facing the possibility of deportation and entry bans to Israel of up to 10 years.
Read the full news article on The Country.
