Montreal activist and physician Nimâ Machouf, who was part of the Sumud global humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza, has spoken out about the harrowing experience she faced while in Israeli custody. Machouf described the treatment she and others endured as psychological torture, urging the Canadian government to take a firmer stance in advocating for the ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid.
“We witnessed a potential genocide in Gaza, which compelled us to act,” Machouf emphasized. “Our government’s inaction allowed this to happen, so now it’s up to the people to take a stand.”
The ship, known as The Conscience, was intercepted by Israeli forces while in international waters. Machouf recounted how the crew, consisting of activists and journalists representing various nations, encountered violence and intimidation during the interception.
“They treated us as if we were an enemy army,” Machouf shared.
She detailed being forcibly taken and mistreated during the raid, explaining how Israeli commandos besieged the ship both by air and sea.
“We were forced to kneel on the port’s asphalt for hours before being taken in,” Machouf recalled.
Machouf recounted her time in a prison in the Negev desert, where she faced severe conditions, constant threats, and what she referred to as psychological coercion.
“They brandished their weapons and threatened us with tear gas and tasers for merely asking questions,” she recounted.
Calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to hold Israel accountable for violating international law and to advocate for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, Machouf stressed the urgency of the situation.
This plea comes in the wake of Israel’s accusations against Hamas for breaching the latest truce agreement and announcing a halving of humanitarian aid supplies to Gaza.
“If our Canadian government had acted to pressure Israel beforehand, we may have avoided this attack on our humanitarian mission,” Machouf asserted.
