As many boats in the Global Sumud Flotilla with hundreds of participants from around the world get set to depart from Barcelona and Tunis and a third wave of ships prepares for a late September departure to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza and the genocide of Palestinians, the headline in the September 1, 2025 Jerusalem Post reads, “Ben-Gvir Plans to Designate Global Sumud Flotilla activists as terrorists, seize boats.”

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir goes on to say that “activists will be held in prisons for terrorists and will be denied special privileges such as television, radio, and specialized food.”

Well, having been twice (2010 and 2016) in Israeli prison for being on boats challenging the illegal Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, I am sure Ben-Gvir has never been in his own prisons.

Those of us who have been in Israeli prison know that we have never been in cells that have TV or radio. And the foods are definitely not “speciality.” Pieces of bread, a tomato, a piece of cucumber, and perhaps a glass of tea are all I have had while in Israeli prison, which was fine with me as we........

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