Chicago – October 06, 2025
An Italian activist who participated in the Gaza aid flotilla and was later detained by Israeli authorities has accused the Israeli military of mistreating and humiliating detainees, with limited access to legal support. Lorenzo D’Agostino, one of several activists deported by Israel, recounted the harsh conditions he endured during his detention. These included being forced to kneel or sit on concrete in front of an Israeli flag for extended periods, exposure to cold temperatures with inadequate clothing, having his belongings confiscated and damaged, and enduring tight restraints on his wrists.
“We were shocked by the level of humiliation and gratuitous cruelty used against us,” D’Agostino told CNN.
He further alleged that detainees from countries with strong ties to Israel, like Italy, were treated less harshly than those from nations with strained relations to the state. D’Agostino claimed that, due to Israel’s close relationship with Italy, guards knew they could not risk physically harming detainees from Italy for fear of international backlash. He described his experience sharing a cell with a Turkish activist whose arm was broken by Israeli guards and left untreated for two days.
In response, Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the accusations, calling the claims “brazen lies” and asserting that the detainees’ legal rights were fully respected.
D’Agostino was among around 450 activists arrested aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, a group of over 40 humanitarian vessels carrying supplies to Gaza. The flotilla, which departed in late August and September, aimed to challenge the ongoing Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory. Israel maintains that the blockade is legal and has characterized the flotilla as a provocative act.
Among those detained was Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Many of the detainees remain imprisoned in Israel, with authorities continuing to uphold their stance on the flotilla as an unlawful challenge to the blockade.
