DaysofPal- French activist of Algerian origin Maryam Hajjal has recounted her experience after being detained by Israeli occupation forces following the Israeli attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea, describing a journey of solidarity that ended in fear, torture, humiliation, and detention.
“I thought the worst had yet to come,” Hajjal said, reflecting on her ordeal, which began as part of an international effort to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza and show support for its population amid the ongoing war since October 2025.
The flotilla, carrying dozens of activists from various nationalities, including academics, human rights advocates, and political activists, set sail in mid-May.
As the vessels approached waters near Gaza, Israeli forces began monitoring their movements before intercepting them on May 18.
According to Hajjal, Israeli forces boarded the ship in broad daylight after ordering it to halt. Activists, who had undergone prior training in nonviolent resistance, raised their hands and complied with instructions as armed soldiers searched passengers and transferred them to an Israeli military vessel.
Hajjal described the moment as tense and frightening, with weapons pointed directly at those on board. “From that moment, fear took over,” she said.
Once aboard the Israeli ship, Hajjal said the detainees entered a harsher phase of treatment.
Personal belongings were confiscated, and activists were forced to sit for extended periods in stressful positions before being placed inside sealed metal containers they later referred to as the “black room.”
She characterized the conditions inside as extremely difficult, citing darkness, cold temperatures, and intense psychological pressure. “It was the hardest part of the journey,” she said.
Over the following three days, detainees reportedly endured inhumane conditions, including limited access to food and water, lack of basic hygiene supplies, and overcrowded detention spaces. Sleep, she said, was on hard surfaces inside cramped containers, while the sound of other detainees screaming at night heightened the sense of fear.
After three days at sea, the group was transported to Ashdod port, where they faced further security procedures and interrogations. Hajjal said detainees were held for hours in restraints before being transferred to Israeli detention facilities and accused of attempting to breach the Gaza blockade and enter a restricted military zone.
She also reported repeated transfers between detention centers under physically and psychologically stressful conditions, reporting mistreatment by Israeli soldiers, including harsh restraints, sleep deprivation, and ongoing psychological pressure.
Hajjal emphasized that her participation in the flotilla was part of a broader political commitment to the Palestinian cause, noting her involvement in protests, advocacy campaigns, and boycott movements in France since the outbreak of the war. She said her family’s Algerian history of resistance also influenced her decision to join the mission despite the risks.
The Global Sumud Flotilla was part of a wider international movement aimed at challenging the blockade on Gaza and drawing attention to humanitarian conditions in the territory.
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