Above photo: Hatem Aouini with Tunisian Embassy Official. Christoper Smalls with Anas Nairoukh- former Flotilla participant, 2010 Mavi Marmara.
Christian Smalls and Hatem Aouini are free.
This morning, the final two Handala volunteers held in Givon Prison–Christian Smalls from the United States and Hatem Aouini from Tunisia–were freed via Jordan’s King Hussein/Allenby Bridge after five days of unlawful imprisonment in occupied Palestine. Both had been on hunger strike to protest mistreatment. Aouini was received by the Tunisian embassy at the border. Despite repeated requests for assistance, neither the U.S. Consulate nor U.S. Embassy officials met Christian at the border, even after being notified in advance of his arrival details.
With their release, all 21 volunteers abducted from the Handala in international waters have now been released from Israeli captivity. But more than 10,300 Palestinian political prisoners remain caged in Israeli occupation prisons, at least 320 of them children, held in violation of international law and subjected to horrific forms of abuse and torture.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s mission to break the blockade on Gaza rests firmly on international law and the right to resist occupation. While Israel continues to starve Palestinians and detain them en masse, we affirm our commitment to freedom, dignity, and justice for all. We will not stop until we break the siege and Palestine is free.
Addendum from Popular Resistance:
Adalah reports: On the morning of 31 July, the final two Handala volunteers held in Givon Prison — Christian Smalls (United States) and Hatem Aouini (Tunisia) — were deported after five days of unlawful detention in poor conditions, during which they were on hunger strike. They departed via Jordan. Aouini was received at the border by the Tunisian embassy.
With their departure, all activists aboard the Handala boat have now been deported, and none remain in Israeli custody.
The initiative to break the illegal blockade of Gaza rests firmly on international law and human rights. Israel’s interception of the Handala in international waters and the detention of volunteers aboard not only violated these legal protections but also perpetuated the ongoing illegal siege, which continues to impose deliberate starvation on Palestinians amid Israel’s 22-month-long genocidal assault. Adalah remains committed to protecting the rights of volunteers engaged in these missions, in the face of Israel’s ongoing illegal policies and practices.
