{"id":348552,"date":"2026-06-10T12:07:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T06:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=348552"},"modified":"2026-06-10T12:07:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T06:37:32","slug":"i-just-desired-to-help-people-the-israeli-army-captured-and-tortured-me-news-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/10\/i-just-desired-to-help-people-the-israeli-army-captured-and-tortured-me-news-world\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I just desired to help people – the Israeli army captured and tortured me’ | News World"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2018Stepping onto the boat, I used to be aware that interception was a possibility,\u2019 says Hasnain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

my friend beside me, I could see the pain etched across his face. He had just been hit by one in every of the rubber bullets sprayed in our direction by Israeli forces.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It definitely wasn\u2019t going to be the last moment of violence inflicted on us after we were taken from our boat, held hostage and tortured \u2013 but even then I knew that irrespective of what we were going through it wasn\u2019t a\u00a0 fraction of the trauma people in Palestine are going through.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I actually have all the time been involved with activism, but I had never planned to be a part of theGlobal Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of vessels crossing the Mediterranean to deliver aid to the people of Gaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a student at King\u2019s College London, I\u2019d followed their missions via the news and when a number of of my friends had been involved in a single last yr, I made a decision to hitch their land crew team. After that, getting on a ship seemed the following inevitable step.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Our mission began after I flew out to Greece at the tip of April and I underwent maritime training alongside other activists who got here from all walks of life.\u00a0We were taught how one can look after each other and how one can be secure in case of any accident.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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After joining the flotilla land crew, going to sea seemed an inevitable step for Hasnain (Picture: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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From Greece, we travelled to Turkey where we finally set sail from Marmaris port to Gaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stepping onto our boat, I used to be aware that interception was a possibility. Greta Thunberg had been detained in past missions \u2013 but I also knew that they didn\u2019t care about who was onboard. It didn\u2019t matter whether or not they were a well known activist, or a big name. <\/p>\n

I simply knew that if we did get confronted, they’d do anything to stop aid from reaching Palestinians.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The flotilla set sail on May 14 from Turkey (Picture: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nonetheless, the probabilities were low, considering all of the vessels that we had \u2013 almost 50, with roughly 400 activists and civilians inside.<\/p>\n

It was on our fourth day at sea that I remember squinting my eyes and spotting a ship in the space.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At first, I used to be unsure whether it was an oil rig, a container ship or a livestock boat, but inside minutes, as one other got here into view, it was clear they were Israeli military vessels moving toward us.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Seconds later, speedboats were launched and quickly surrounded the flotilla. The forces yelled: \u2018we’ll shoot if you happen to don’t comply with our instructions\u2019.<\/p>\n

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Suddenly, fires were shot and I used to be hit by shrapnel, while my friend took a bullet to his face. I used to be horrified. I genuinely questioned why they’d shoot innocent and unarmed civilians.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We weren\u2019t a violent group, nor did we’ve got weapons. We were carrying baby formula, milk, food and eggs and our only agenda was to deliver it safely to the shores of Gaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite all this, the soldiers dragged us from our boat onto a speedboat, where the one thing we could hold onto for safety was a rope because the sea violently hit us in our faces.<\/p>\n

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\u2018As desperate because it was, I refused to lose hope,\u2019 says Hasnain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At first we were held captive in a warship. We had no idea where it was going. It was one of the vital awful things I had ever experienced. 70 of us were crammed in a room that ought to only hold about 40, and the stench of excrement and bodily fluids filled the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As desperate because it was, I refused to lose hope.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After two days we were moved to a jail within the Gaza Strip, where I used to be punched in my ribs, in my face, elbowed, and kicked within the knee. With each attack, I remember considering how I just wanted the torture to stop.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The best way during which we were treated was inhumane. All of the activists held hostage, including myself, were tied with our hands to our back while kneeling. I still have the tie marks across my wrists. We were also told to maintain our heads downward taking a look at the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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It was all documented in a video which was released by Israel\u2019s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for the world to see, showing all of the flotilla attendees with their hands tied and their heads down. I\u2019m actually in that video. Right after it shows an activist being dragged down, there\u2019s someone with their hand down. That\u2019s me.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After 4 days within the prison, we were forced to sign papers to be deported to Turkey. After I arrived back within the UK, I realised how blessed I used to be to have such a\u00a0 strong support system. <\/p>\n

But at the identical time it appears like a double-edged sword, as I do know that the people I used to be attempting to help don’t have any support system, no alternative.<\/p>\n

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Hasnain says he doesn\u2019t regret being a part of the flotilla (Picture: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite the whole lot, a few of our goals were met. While not all of the aid reached the shore of Gaza, among the boats had wrapped items which were actually let into the ocean a few days after we were deported, which did eventually reach them. \u00a0<\/p>\n

So, do I feel we were successful? Absolutely. Not only were the people of Gaza in a position to get something, however the like-mindedness of that stunning space while we were within the flotilla jogged my memory of the wonder in trusting others to commit to a cause.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I do know some people must wonder if I regret it \u2013 but I don\u2019t. All of us on this mission gave our humanitarian goals a shot, and I’ll all the time be glad about that perseverance and sense of community that I won’t ever find anywhere else.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Metro has been unable to confirm Hasnain\u2019s allegations and are yet to listen to back from the IDF after reaching out for comment. <\/em><\/p>\n

In an announcement to the BBC, Israel\u2019s prison service said: \u2018All prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law, with full regard for his or her basic rights and under the supervision of skilled and trained prison staff.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018Medical care is provided in keeping with skilled medical judgment, and in accordance with ministry of health guidelines.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said: \u2018IDF orders require respectful and appropriate treatment of flotilla participants on the intercepted vessels, and there are clear and established procedures on this regard.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018No specific incidents of deviation from these binding procedures are known inside the IDF. Any concrete complaints submitted to the IDF on the matter can be examined thoroughly.<\/em>\u2018<\/p>\n

As told to Bella Steiner<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Seven-month-old Palestinian baby shot by Israeli troops in occupied West Bank<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Trump tells Netanyahu \u2018you\u2019d be in prison if it weren\u2019t for me\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Pregnant woman dragged along floor by police by her hair<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2018Stepping onto the boat, I used to be aware that interception was a possibility,\u2019 says Hasnain my friend beside me, I could see the pain etched across his face. He had just been hit by one in every of the rubber bullets sprayed in our direction by Israeli forces.\u00a0 It definitely wasn\u2019t going to be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":348553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20691],"tags":[9040,21113,12209,395,2038,24529,831,813],"class_list":["post-348552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world","tag-army","tag-captured","tag-israeli","tag-news","tag-people","tag-tortured","tag-wanted","tag-world"],"aioseo_notices":[{"message":"The permalink for this post just changed! This could result in 404 errors for your site visitors.","status":"warning","options":{"id":"0a2ae5f84bc2c0423042ed7ec22d2e40","isDismissible":true,"actions":[{"url":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/wp-admin\/admin.php?page=aioseo-redirects","label":"Add Redirect to improve SEO","class":"aioseo-redirects-slug-changed"}]},"allowedContexts":["posts"]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=348552"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":348555,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348552\/revisions\/348555"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/348553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=348552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=348552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=348552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}