An American journalist participating in the Hamas sympathizing “Freedom Flotilla” leveled serious allegations about the Israeli guards’ treatment of her and other activists, “targeted for extreme brutality throughout imprisonment.”
Despite all the attention, climate crusader turned Gaza enthusiast Greta Thunberg was hardly alone when it came to sailing directly into controversy. Just as she had claimed to be “abducted” after the flotilla she traveled with had been prevented from breaching Israel’s naval blockade around Gaza, so too did journalist Noa Avishag Schnall accuse Israeli guards of “beatings” and “threats of rape.”
The message came from Schnall, who had been aboard the Conscience as part of the flotilla reporting for Drop Site News when the vessels were intercepted and the activists were transported to Israel for deportation.
“Our boat, the Conscience, was attacked in international waters around 5 a.m. Wednesday morning,” she contended, asserting in detail, “The brutality began immediately. We were taken through multiple levels of administration and the first of many strip searches. At least one woman has reported being physically penetrated by guards who laughed at her pain. Many flotilla members reported watching their valuables being looted by guards during bag searches. All of us had our hands violently shoved towards the ground and arms held in stress positions behind us, many with zip-ties, and were led through processing and sorted into groups of men and women, then blindfolded.”
We will post a transcribed and edited version of her dispatch from @DropSiteNews but here is the raw footage as she submitted it. Utterly enraging. You can learn more about Noa and her work here: https://t.co/i5zLscGKTf pic.twitter.com/dI9hLPJxsi
— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) October 13, 2025
“Several of the 150 total flotilla members, including me, were targeted for extreme brutality throughout imprisonment,” Schnall further claimed. “Any flotilla member who upset the Israeli guards was subjected to twisted and tightened handcuffs, and some received beatings. I was hung from the metal shackles on my wrists and ankles and beaten in the stomach, back, face, ear, and skull by a group of men and women guards, one of whom sat on my neck and face, blocking my airways.”
“During the evening, the men were tormented by guards with attack dogs and guns. The women were threatened with pepper spray,” she added. “Our cell was awoken with threats of rape.”
While Schnall’s allegations aligned with claims of others who’d been held by Israel, others who also claimed the Jewish State was responsible for genocide in Gaza, The Times of Israel reported that representatives from governments of nations like Greece and South Africa who’d visited detained citizens had described their people as in “good health and high spirits.”
Worth noting, the Israeli Foreign Ministry had previously detailed a “direct link between the flotilla leaders and the Hamas terrorist organization” after documents had been recovered connecting the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) to organizing the vessels. The same organization had previously been tied to “mobilizing actions against Israel, including violent demonstrations, marches, and provocation flotillas.”
Still, the Times also reported that Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir had visited the Ketziot Prison where he mocked activists being held — many of whom had chosen to delay their deportations —Â as they were processed before releasing a statement, “I went to visit Ketziot prison and I was proud that we are treating the ‘flotilla activists’ as terror suspects, whoever supports terrorism is a terrorist, and deserves the conditions of terrorists.”
“It is worthwhile for them to experience the conditions in Ketziot prison, and think twice before they come close to Israel again,” he added. “That’s how it works.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
- Tom Homan: Pro-illegal immigrant bishops ‘need to spend time fixing Catholic Church’ - November 15, 2025
- Swalwell threatens federal investigators over DOJ mortgage fraud referral - November 15, 2025
- Tim Burchett: Failed Trump assassin Thomas Crooks was ‘programmed’ by CIA, dark intel ops - November 15, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.