Middle East Eight Swiss members of the Gaza flotilla are back in Geneva
Nine Swiss members of the Gaza flotilla are back in Switzerland. Upon their arrival in Geneva, eight of these returnees reported inhumane treatment following their arrest in Israel.
05.10.2025, 13:10
05.10.2025, 16:37
SDA
They also said they were "very concerned" about the fate of those activists who are still being held by Israel. "We are shocked by what we have seen and experienced," one of the Swiss said in the arrivals hall at Geneva airport on Sunday. Around 200 people welcomed the eight activists.
"Outright attack"
The activist, who spoke on behalf of his comrades, reported that the flotilla had been subjected to a "regular military attack" by the Israeli navy. He then spoke of "inhumane" detention conditions and that they had been victims of "torture and assault".
The activist said that he did not want to go into further detail as long as other activists were still detained. "We will issue a comprehensive statement upon their return." More than 300 members of the flotilla, including ten Swiss nationals, are still in custody. "We are very concerned about their fate."
Swiss "inaction" criticized
The activist also criticized the "total inaction" of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), which he said had done little to help them. In contrast, he praised Turkey's support, which had made it possible to repatriate activists via Istanbul.
A total of 19 Swiss nationals were among the more than 400 activists on board the flotilla's 41 ships. Israeli forces intercepted the boats on Thursday and Friday and took the occupants into custody.
In addition to the eight Swiss nationals who returned via Geneva on Sunday, a ninth person landed in Zurich on Saturday. According to the latest information, the remaining ten Swiss nationals are still in the Ktzi'ot detention center in the Negev desert.
According to Annie Serrati, spokesperson for the organization Waves of Freedom (WOFA), who was present at Geneva airport on Sunday, the health of the ten Swiss nationals is "relatively good". However, she said she was concerned about the conditions of detention, particularly in terms of hygiene and access to food and drinking water.
