BURST
Montreal doctor and activist Nimâ Machouf has been released from Israeli custody after her aid boat bound for Gaza was intercepted in international waters earlier this week.
Machouf, 59, was among about 150 people aboard a nine-boat convoy organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza, which was stopped by Israeli forces early on Wednesday. A public health specialist at the Université de Montréal and former NDP candidate, she joined the mission to deliver supplies to Gaza.
On Friday, she told Radio-Canada that she and two other Canadians were flown to Istanbul and freed.
“We arrived in Istanbul safe and sound,” she said.
A photo posted to social media by the Canadian Boat to Gaza group showed Machouf smiling and flashing a peace sign alongside fellow Canadian Mskwaasin Agnew after their release. The third Canadian released was activist Khurram Musti Khan.
Machouf said three other women remain in custody.
Earlier this week, Machouf said the flotilla’s goal was to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
“Israel controls everything that goes in and doesn’t allow people to have the material that they need,” she told CTV News.
Israel has maintained a naval blockade on Gaza since 2007, after Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip, saying it is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas.
Describing her experience, Machouf said: “We were attacked at sea, in international waters, by the Israeli army. They landed with two all-black helicopters in the middle of the night, arrested us, and took us to the port of Ashdod.”
She alleged that detainees were mistreated after being brought ashore.
“At the port, they handcuffed us and made us kneel for two or three hours,” she said. “We were mistreated … but, as internationals, we suffered only psychological torture.”
Israel has denied allegations of abuse or any mistreatment, calling reports of mistreatment to those taken ashore as “brazen lies.”
It previously said all passengers were “safe and in good health” and would be deported promptly.
The country’s foreign ministry described the flotilla as “another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone.”