Above photo:
NOTE: For information about the people who were kidnapped from The Handala and how to contact their governments to demand their release, click here.
Update | 28 July 2025, 17:30 Jerusalem Time
Today, Monday 28 July 2025, at 16:00, hearings concluded at Givon Prison, concerning the continued detention of the 14 volunteers who were aboard the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship Handala and refused to consent to an expedited deportation process. The volunteers are on hunger strike. The hearings were held by the Detention Review Tribunal at Givon Prison facility in Ramleh and lasted over six hours. Adalah attorneys Dr. Suhad Bishara and Nareman Shehadeh-Zoabi represented the volunteers before the tribunal.
During the hearings, the volunteers stressed that their mission was humanitarian—motivated by the need to act against Israel’s illegal siege and the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The genocide, now in its 22nd month, has caused mass starvation and deaths from malnutrition, including of dozens of children.
Christian Smalls (United States), reported severe physical violence by Israeli forces. Several female activists described similar abuse and deplorable detention conditions, including a lack of ventilation despite extreme heat and the absence of basic sanitary supplies for women. The activists told the tribunal that they remain on an open hunger strike in protest of their unlawful detention.
When he reached the Israeli prison, U.S. human rights defender Chris Smalls was physically assaulted by seven uniformed individuals. They choked him and kicked him in the legs, leaving visible signs of violence on his neck and back.
When his lawyer met with him, Chris was… pic.twitter.com/tzHJ8cyX8K— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) July 29, 2025
The activists who appeared before the tribunal today are: Braedon Peluso (United States), Robert Martin (Australia), Tania (Tan) Safi (“Australia”), Justine Kempf (France), Emma Fourreau (France–Sweden), Antonio La Picirella (Italy), Christian Smalls (United States), Chloé Fiona Ludden (United Kingdom–France), Sergio Toribio Sanchez (Spain), Vigdis Bjorvand (Norway), Hatem Aouini (Tunisia), Santiago González Vallejo (Spain), Ange Sahuquet (France), and Dr. Frank Romano (United States–France). Several of the volunteers reported that Israeli authorities applied intense pressure on them yesterday, forcing them to waive their right to meet with a lawyer. This prevented Adalah’s legal team from meeting them at the time; however, the team was able to meet with all volunteers today.
Under Israeli law, the tribunal does not rule on deportation itself but only on continued detention pending deportation. Adalah stressed before the tribunal that the ongoing detention of civilians who were forcibly taken into Israel from international waters while attempting to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. Adalah will continue to pursue their immediate release through all available legal channels.
Update | 28 July 2025, 8:45 PM Jerusalem time
The Israeli Detention Review Tribunal has upheld the continued detention of the 14 volunteers who were aboard the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship Handala and refused to consent to an expedited deportation process, until deportation is carried out. Adalah will continue to provide updates as they come.
