Alwaght- Israeli regime has seized a second boat belonging to the international Freedom Flotilla coalition which was carrying aid to the besieged Gaza Strip in face of a draconian blockade imposed by Tel Aviv.
Tel Aviv held the 20 activists and the boat after they arrived several dozen miles off the coast of Gaza on Sunday, the group said.
Most of those on board Al Awda, which means The Return in Arabic, were held in prison, while two Israelis on the vessel were released on bail. Freedom Flotilla said the Norwegian-flagged boat had been surrounded by “12 military vessels with hundreds of armed soldiers”.
“Some participants were repeatedly tasered, including in the head. Others were punched or had their head beaten against a wall by IOF (Israel Occupation Forces) soldiers. Zip-cuffs were used in a manner which cut off circulation,” Freedom Flotilla said.
The incident occurred days after the Israeli navy seized a first boat belonging to the fotilla.
The vessel, named Freedom for Gaza and carrying 12 people, was taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod on Saturday, the military said, adding the people on board were taken for "further inquiry."
The first "Freedom Flotilla", carrying medical equipment, was intercepted en route to "break the blockade" on Gaza last month.
Four boats left from Scandinavia in mid-May and stopped in some 28 ports along the way, with two remaining behind after a recent stop in the Italian port of Palermo.
