(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/6/2025) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned Israeli occupation forces’ reported abuses and inhumane treatment of American citizens and civilian activists – including Greta Thunberg – abducted while en route to Gaza delivering humanitarian aid.
According to multiple media reports, Global Sumud flotilla (GSF) participants attempting to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid to the besieged people of Gaza were kidnapped by Israeli forces in international waters, then detained in an Israeli prison under the control of extremist minister Itmar Ben-Gvir that is notorious for torture and other abuses.
Some released activists have reported witnessing or experiencing physical assault, denial of food, water and medical care, and other degrading treatment while in Israeli custody. A kidnapped Italian activist said Israeli prison guards disrupted Muslims who were trying to pray.
The Guardian reported that “members of the flotilla said Israeli forces appeared to single out Thunberg for harsher treatment than the others.”
Al Jazeera reports: “…Malaysian sisters and singers-actors Heliza Helmi and Hazwani Helmi, also described ‘brutal’ and ‘cruel’ treatment when detained by Israeli forces. ‘Can you imagine we drank from the toilet water? Some people were very, very sick, but they [the Israelis] said: ‘Are they dead? If not, then that’s not my problem.’”
SEE: More Gaza flotilla activists allege mistreatment in Israeli detention
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir boasted about the abuse of the kidnapped activists, saying he “was proud that we treat flotilla activists as terror supporters.”
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“The reported abuse and mistreatment of peaceful humanitarian activists by Israeli forces is both outrageous and unacceptable. These individuals — including Greta Thunberg and American citizens — were exercising their moral duty to stand in solidarity with innocent civilians in Gaza suffering under a genocide. Israel’s kidnapping, abuses, and humiliations of these activists are clear violations of international law and human decency.
“Our government and the governments of every kidnapped activist must condemn these reported abuses in the strongest terms and hold the Israeli government accountable for its repeated violations of human rights and international norms.”
On Saturday, CAIR said President Trump must force Israel stop it genocide in Gaza after indicted war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu blatantly ignored the president’s ceasefire demand by killing at least 61 people – including four aid seekers in attacks since dawn despite the president’s call for an end to the bombing.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com