TEHRAN – Iran’s foreign ministry has strongly condemned the “brutally and inhumane” treatment of hundreds of international activists in the Israeli regime.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeir Bakaei issued a statement on Saturday, denounced the violent detention of activists by Israeli forces and the transfer to the infamous ktzi’ot prison, calling it a “symbol of torture and Inhan treatment” of Palestinian prisoners.
Baqaei said participants in dozens of nations’ representative fleets embarked on a peaceful mission to emphasize Gaza’s humanitarian crisis as aid, but encountered violence and humiliation. He cited repeated reports of insults and verbal abuse by Itamar Ben Gwil, Israel’s far-right national security minister, who dubbed activists “terrorists.” Such actions, he said, reflected “the moral collapse of the Zionist regime.”
According to the spokesman, it was in fact violent actions against Israeli authorities that constituted the “terrorist act.”
The fleet, which sailed from Barcelona at the end of last month, was the biggest international maritime effort in decades to challenge Israeli blockade against Gaza.
On Friday, the Israeli Navy intercepted the fleet’s final ship, detained passengers, and elicited widespread international condemnation. Participants reported being threatened and harassed, claiming physical abuse during the attack. Among them was Greta Samberg, a climate activist who was reportedly piloted by Israeli forces.
Baqaei noted that citizens from at least 44 countries were involved in the campaign, demanding all governments and the United Nations for the immediate release of activists, urging Israel to hold them accountable for their actions.
He said Tel Aviv’s conflict with Flotilla was part of a broader policy of expanding the siege and hunger imposed on Gaza, calling the blockade a deliberate attempt to “starve and conquer the entire population.”
The spokesman also denounced the continued support of the US and several Western governments for Israel amid the continued attacks on Gaza, the “war of genocide” since October 2023.
The idiots stressed that the international community is both legal and moral responsibility to stop genocide, guide perpetrators to justice and support efforts to lift Gaza’s lockdown.