SAEDNEWS: "Not one of us escaped." Those were the words of a Greek activist stepping off a flight in Athens Friday, still bearing fresh marks of Israeli torture.
According to Saednews, Greek activists who were illegally detained by Israel after the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla reached Athens on Friday, where they described mistreatment and alleged torture during their detention.
The group of 19 activists arrived at Athens International Airport at around 9 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), where they were welcomed by pro-Palestinian supporters, as well as family members and friends.
Waving Palestinian flags, supporters chanted slogans in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza and condemned cooperation with Israel.
Among those who returned, activist Phaedra Vokali said at the airport that some participants were injured due to the treatment they received in Israeli custody.
“Some of us were in such bad condition that we could not walk. After all this torture, they transferred us to prisons at the Port of Ashdod,” she said.
Vokali added that harsh conditions continued there as well, describing them as inhumane.
She said the detainees were held under severe conditions without access to water, food, or toilet paper.
“We were lying almost on top of each other in containers. Compared to what Palestinians have endured for decades, what we experienced is nothing,” she added.
Vokali stressed that they would continue advocating for a free Palestine, warning that without accountability, such incidents would continue.
“If we don’t act, it will be our turn too,” she said.
Another activist, Christini Desi-Luka, said the mission was a peaceful effort to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“We know very well that Israel was trying by all means to block any aid that could help the Palestinian people,” she said, adding that Israel was “trying to destroy the Palestinian people and is in fact carrying out genocide.”
Desi-Luka also said Western countries, including Greece and the United States, were ignoring the situation.
She stated that all activists faced mistreatment during detention, including beatings and deprivation.
“They tried to dehumanize us. We faced plastic bullets, beatings, and thirst.”
She urged the international community and Greek citizens to respond to the situation in Palestine.
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