Malika Baouya and Scott Moreau, two members of the Global Sumud Flotilla who were kidnapped by Israeli forces in international waters last week, returned home to Nice yesterday evening (26 May), where a large group of friends, family and supporters welcomed them home. Below are some images and video statements from their homecoming when they arrived in Nice Airport.

They were part of a group of 430 activists from 50 boats carrying food and other humanitarian aid in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza when they were detained on and about 18 May in non-territorial waters off the coast of Cyprus, 250 nautical miles from Gaza. That was a brazen violation of international law; it is piracy, it is kidnapping.

Like most of the flotilla members, both were tortured during their captivity, but they required hospitalization in Istanbul before returning: Malika suffered a broken clavicle and other neck and vertebrae injuries, and Scott several severely bruised ribs and a ruptured ear drum from repeated blows to the head. He was also sexually assaulted.

Prior to the flotilla members’ release, lawyers from the Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel spoke to more than 200 of the detainees, who reported numerous accounts of extreme violence “that revealed a new pattern of physical abuse deliberately used by Israeli authorities”. From Adalah’s statement released on 20 May:

The lawyers documented dozens of participants with suspected broken ribs and resulting difficulty in breathing. Reports also indicated the frequent use of Tasers against participants, as well as injuries sustained from the use of rubber bullets during the interception of the flotilla boats and on the military boat to which they were transferred. The detained activists were subjected to extreme violence both on the vessels and during the transfer time between the boats and the port. Furthermore, authorities forced the activists into stress positions; while being moved around the port, they were forced to walk bent completely forward while guards violently held their backs down. Participants were also forced to sit onto their knees inside the boat for prolonged periods of time.

In addition to this physical abuse, the participants were subjected to severe degradation and sexual harassment and humiliation. Further, several women participants had their hijabs ripped off by Israeli authorities.

Here are two statements from Scott, describing his experiences, the abuse he suffered and the abuse Palestinians continue to suffer every day.

Global Sumud Flotilla participant Scott Moreau describes abuse he suffered while detained by Israeli forces

Scott Moreau’s statement after his release from detainment

More testimony from flotilla members is being reported daily. All are emphasizing that the torture and cruelty they suffered is miniscule compared to what Palestinians face every day.

Ten more photos below. Below that are some video interviews with Scott and Malika; I’ll post more as they become available. I also posted some photos on Instagram and Facebook – feel free to share.

Video Links

France 3 Côte d’Azur report (French)

Nice, 26 May 2026