🔗 Share this article

Loved ones of held participants from New Zealand have raised alarms about poor conditions in Israel's custody, involving limited availability to clean water and legal representation.

Humanitarian Mission Participants Face Expulsion

More than 70 crew members from various countries are scheduled to be removed from the country, featuring twenty-eight French nationals, twenty-seven Greek citizens, fifteen Italian nationals, and 9 Swedes.

Family Reports of Poor Conditions

The father of one detainee voiced serious worry about his son's condition, saying: "I'm extremely anxious about Samuel, as he is held in a holding cell currently, in a confined space packed with other detainees... he has been lacking water and attorney access."

Health Concerns and Handling

Rana's sister stated that her loved one had suffered an shoulder injury to her shoulder, though the loved ones remained unclear about the specifics of how it occurred.

"I urge the authorities to respond and bring our family members home safe and in good health," the relative stated.

Official Statements

The Pacific nation's ministry of foreign affairs issued a statement confirming that a consular partner in Tel Aviv had met with the New Zealanders and that additional assistance would be provided in the near future.

Simultaneously, Israel's government officials has denied claims that some participants were denied access their lawyers and stated that the due process rights of the individuals were being "completely protected."

Additional Allegations of Mistreatment

Legal representatives assisting the held participants have claimed that some of those in custody have endured poor treatment and physical harm while in Israeli custody.

• Refusal of healthcare services and medication
• Allegedly, a Muslim woman was pressured to take off her head covering
• Inadequate access to essential items

Political Positions

A prominent member of New Zealand's Green Party, the politician, informed a press conference that the held nationals were working to establish a global community "in which our compassion actually means something."

Simultaneously, the diplomat the official targeted critics of "artificial anger" and suggested that participants of the humanitarian mission were "headline hunting" and had been warned not to participate with the expedition.

The head of government the official told the media that representatives had expressed "forcefully to the officials" that the security of nationals was essential.

However, the official declined to criticize the country's stopping of the flotilla because there were "arguments on both sides."