Mistreatment claims

SOME of the activists detained while trying to reach Gaza by sea have returned to their home countries to describe mistreatment at the hands of Israeli guards.

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Around 450 activists were arrested last week as Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of 42 boats seeking to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the famine-stricken Palestinian territory.

Those detained between last Wednesday and Friday were brought to Israel, where many remained in prison yesterday.

Israel denies the claims. The Israeli foreign ministry said it offered voluntary deportation to all of the activists, and those who remain in detention chose to stay there in order to go through a legal deportation process.