Gaza flotilla activists allege abuse by Israeli forces while detained

The detained activists were transferred to Israeli vessels and taken to an Israeli prison after arriving at the port of Ashdod.On Thursday, 422 people from 41 countries were deported by Israel. Many have since arrived home.Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said on Friday that she had "received information from my officials which details the appalling abuse of Canadians who were detained in Israel", without giving further details.She added: "Canada unequivocally condemns the grave mistreatment of Canadians in Israel. Those responsible for this egregious abuse must be held accountable."A spokesperson for Germany's foreign ministry said its consular officials had met German activists on arrival in Istanbul on Thursday and reported that a number were injured.Humane treatment of German nationals was an "absolute priority", they added. "We naturally expect a full explanation, as some of the allegations that have been made are serious."Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told reporters that four of the 44 Spanish activists had received medical treatment for injuries.Organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla also said on Friday: "At least 15 cases of sexual assaults, including rape. Shot with rubber bullets at close range. Tens of people's bones broken."Mantovani said he was beaten up by Israeli forces after being taken to a detention facility made from shipping containers, which he described as a "place of terror".At Istanbul airport, British activist Richard Johan Anderson told reporters: "We've been beaten, tortured, systematically dehumanised, and... we have just had a little taste of what the Palestinians go through every day."Adalah, an Israel-based rights group representing the detainees, earlier said there had been "severe, widespread injuries", with at least three people taken to hospital for treatment.The group said its lawyers, who spoke to hundreds of the activists at Ashdod port, had received "a large number of complaints of extreme violence" by Israeli authorities.Earlier in the week, Israel faced condemnation from more than 20 countries, including the UK, in response to a video shared by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees the Israeli prison service and police force.The video showed him taunting dozens of activists while they were shown forced to kneel with their hands tied and foreheads touching the floor. The activists were also seen being roughly handled by Israeli security forces.It prompted rare criticism for Ben Gvir's actions from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said they were "not in line with Israel's values".