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Around 500 people were sailing to Gaza on more than 40 boats as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla in September, when Israel began intercepting the boats and boarding ships to detain activists, journalists, and public figures including Greta Thunberg.
Speaking publicly for the first time, journalist Anna Liedtke – who was held for five days – revealed she was assaulted during a strip search while being transferred between israeli prisons.
“I am sharing it for all the women who experienced sexual violence and sexual torture in the prisons, for all the women who have experienced similar horrible things in the prison, and probably are experiencing them right now as we are speaking at this conference.”
“I am speaking on behalf of those who did not survive those attacks, those who cannot speak about it as they are still in prison. And again, I am not the one that should feel ashamed.”
“It is indeed the Zionist state and its prisons his guards who should feel ashamed. Conversely, there is nothing else to expect from states like those.”
She also referenced testimonies from Palestinian prisoners, “especially from female prisoners,” detailing similar and systematic mistreatment by Israeli authorities while incarcerated.
liedtke emphasized, “One thing is very crucial, it did not break my will.There are so many role models, so many women comrades, so many brave women I take a lot of strength from, and looking back at history, women have always been stronger than that.”
“I will end my speech by saying this. I will not stop fighting for justice and the end of violence until every woman is free and has received justice.”
“I will not stop fighting until patriarchy does not exist.”
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CCTV footage from the flotilla showed Israeli ships deploying water cannons against several vessels,and activists reported one boat being “rammed” by an Israeli navy vessel.
All four Scottish participants involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla were intercepted and detained by Israel, and afterward returned home in October.
The IDF have been contacted for comment.
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