Six activists from South Africa, who were detained by Israeli authorities while attempting to reach Gaza as part of a humanitarian flotilla, claimed today that they were treated more harshly than others during their confinement, citing their country’s involvement in a genocide lawsuit against Israel.
Upon their return, the activists—among them the grandson of Nelson Mandela—reported that they had been specifically targeted after the Israeli guards recognized their South African nationality.
Two Muslim women from the group recounted that guards forcibly removed their headscarves and compelled them to disrobe in front of Israeli soldiers.
It is noteworthy that South Africa has been engaged since 2023 in a highly controversial case at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Mandela Mandela, the grandson of the iconic anti-apartheid leader and the first black president of South Africa, stated that the activists faced “harsh treatment” because their nation has challenged Israel over its actions in Gaza through legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice.
Mandela Mandela emphasized that the treatment they received was a consequence of their country daring to prosecute Israel for apartheid policies at international courts and holding it accountable for its actions.
Upon their arrival at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, South African activists Fatima Hendricks and Zohra Soumar told reporters that Israeli authorities forcibly stripped them of their hijabs during their detention, an experience not shared by the other Muslim women in the group.
Soumar added, “They took us behind a barrier, shoved our heads against the wall, and stripped us completely in front of Israeli soldiers—something none of the other women experienced. When they saw our passports, that was when we faced that treatment simply because we are from South Africa.”
The six South African activists were part of nearly 450 individuals detained when Israeli forces intercepted the Global Freedom Flotilla, comprised of 42 vessels aiming to break the Israeli maritime blockade on Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the famine-stricken enclave.
They were detained last week and subsequently taken to Israel. The Israeli Foreign Ministry categorically denied any allegations of mistreatment, asserting that all activists were offered the option of voluntary deportation without detention.