TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An activist from a Black American humanitarian organization aboard the Handala aid ship bound for Gaza was physically assaulted upon arrival at an Israeli prison, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
The Handala, carrying baby formula, food, and medicine, was seized by Israeli forces near the coast of Gaza on Saturday night. The vessel had 21 unarmed civilian passengers from various countries and professions, including parliament members, medical personnel, and volunteers.
“When he reached the Israeli prison, U.S. human rights defender Chris Smalls was physically assaulted by seven uniformed individuals,” the coalition said, as quoted by Anadolu.
Chris Smalls is a U.S. labor activist from New Jersey who founded and leads the Amazon Labor Union (ALU).
“They choked him and kicked him in the legs, leaving visible signs of violence on his neck and back,” the statement read.
The FFC emphasized that “when his lawyer met him, Chris was surrounded by six members of the Israeli special police unit. Such violence is not used against other abducted activists.”
The group condemned the assault: “We condemn this violence against Chris and demand accountability for the assault and discriminatory treatment he faced.”
The Handala, launched by the FFC, departed from Italy in an attempt to break Israel’s months-long siege, which has left 2.4 million Gaza residents on the brink of starvation.
In recent months, Israel has intercepted several aid ships in international waters en route to Gaza.
In June, Israeli forces seized the Madleen, detaining 12 international activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French European Parliament member Rima Hassan. A month earlier, the MV Conscience was attacked by an unmanned aerial vehicle near Malta.
Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza for 18 years. Since March 2, it has closed all crossings, preventing aid convoys from entering and ignoring repeated international calls to reopen them.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 147 people have died of starvation since October 2023, including 88 children.
Rejecting international demands for a ceasefire, Israel has continued its offensive in Gaza since October 7, 2023, killing over 60,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its war on the enclave.
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