By Ann Wright, former U.S. Diplomat, World BEYOND War, July 30, 2025
Harsh and Degrading Conditions in Israeli Prison
As a former U.S. diplomat charged with the protection of U.S. citizens outside the U.S., I am appalled that no officials from the U.S. Embassy in Israel have made visits to Givon prison in Israel to check on the welfare of the seven U.S. citizens from the Gaza flotilla ship Handala who have been imprisoned for over four days.
Officials from other countries whose citizens were on the Handala have made visits to the prison to talk in person about their welfare, conditions and treatment in the prison and treatment by Israeli commandos when the ship was boarded in international waters on July 26, 2025 and U.S. citizens taken against their will to Israel and then charged with illegally entering Israel.
There were 7 U.S. citizens on the Handala.
Adalah attorneys Report Harsh and Degrading Detention
As of July 30, 3 U.S. citizens remain in Givon prison. Adalah lawyers who have represented the 3 in a deportation hearing on July 28 reported that organizer Chris Smalls, the former leader of the Amazon labor union, said he was subjected to “severe physical violence by Israeli forces” while in Israeli custody.
At the same hearing on July 28, Adalah lawyers wrote “Several female activists described similar abuse and deplorable detention conditions, including a lack of ventilation despite extreme heat and the absence of basic sanitary supplies for women. The activists told the tribunal that they remain on an open hunger strike in protest of their unlawful detention.”
In a report issued at 10pm Jerusalem time, July 29, Adalah attorneys reported that they visited the Handala volunteers earlier on July 29;
Adalah lawyers reported that “the volunteers reported harsh and degrading detention conditions. The volunteers are now on their fourth consecutive day of hunger strike, protesting their unlawful detention.
The male detainees reported violent cell searches by prison service forces not wearing uniforms, which took place immediately after their return from the immigration tribunal hearings yesterday. All activists confirmed they are being held in small, overcrowded rooms with no ventilation or cooling, despite temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius. They also reported being denied hygiene supplies and showers, and said their rooms are infested with bedbugs. They are not allowed any yard time and remain confined in closed rooms all day, without access to fresh air or space to move.
Frank Romano (United States – France), now held alone after the deportation of his former cellmates, announced his intention to appeal the order for his continued detention and deportation. He also declared he will continue a total hunger strike until a ceasefire in Gaza is secured. The Norwegian activist Vigdis Bjorvand reported being held in a solitary room without any communication or companion despite her advanced age.
Adalah reiterates that their ongoing detention is illegal and unjustified. The conditions they endure highlight the harsh realities faced within Israeli Prison Service custody, where many Palestinians suffer far more severe mistreatment and abuse.
7 Gaza Flotilla Volunteers Remain in Givon Prison-11 Volunteers and 3 journalists have been deported
The three U.S. citizens who are still in Givon prison who have not been visited by U.S. Embassy officials are Christian Smalls, Amazon Labor Union founder; Braedon Peluso, a sailor and direct-action activist and Dr. Frank Romano, an international lawyer, filmmaker and actor.
Four other volunteers on the Handala also remain in Givon prison, but they have been visited by officials from their embassies: Santiago Gonzalez Vallejo and Sergio Toribio Sanchez, both from Spain, Hatem Aouini from Tunisia and Vigdis Bjorvand from Norway. Vigdis is the only woman remaining in prison.
2 U.S.-Israeli Citizens Have been released; 2 U.S. Citizens Deported
Huwaida Arraf, a human rights attorney and Bob Suberi, Jewish U.S. war veteran are dual citizens of the U.S. and Israel and were released upon arrival in Israel as is typically done with dual U.S.-Israeli citizens.
Jacob Berger, a Jewish-American activist and actor, was deported from Israel on July 28 and is back in the U.S.
Waad al Musa, an Iraq-American Al Jazeera journalist was deported from Israel on July 29.
Statements by 2 U.S. Citizens Still in Givon Prison
Braedon Peluso conveyed the following message to be shared publicly:
“No U.S. embassy officials have visited us or inquired about our condition—despite our repeated appeals.”
Frank Romano, who undertook a water and hunger strike for three days, announced that he will resume drinking water as of 18:00 on July 29 but will continue his hunger strike until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza. He has shared the following letter from detention:
“After completing three days of a hunger and water strike, I will start drinking water at 18:00 today. From now on, I will continue the hunger strike until a ceasefire is approved by both sides regarding the genocide in Gaza. I have already gone three days without food or water. Now, I will continue with the hunger strike until a ceasefire.
It is urgent for the world to come together to end the occupation—in Gaza, the West Bank, and all of Palestine.
These are desperate times, and we must take desperate actions. My life is only a vehicle—this is not about me, but about shedding light on Gaza.”
Romano emphasized that the global community has a responsibility to act against Israel’s illegal blockade and the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
Call U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy in Israel to Demand U.S. Officials Visit U.S. Citizens in Israeli Prison
Please call the U.S. Department of State (+1-202-647-1512) and call and email U.S. Embassy in Israel and demand U.S. Officials Visit U.S. Citizens in Israeli Prison. +(972) (3) 519-7575; Emergency After-Hours Telephone +(972) (3) 519-7551; Email amctelaviv@state.gov
Here is video of outrage of no consular visits to U.S. Citizens.
About the Author: Ann Wright was a U.S. diplomat for 16 years and resigned in 2003 in opposition to the Bush administration’s war on Iraq. She has been in Israeli prison two times as a volunteer on Gaza flotilla ships. She is on the steering committees of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla coalition and U.S. Boats to Gaza, the national campaign for the flotilla coalition.
Freedom Flotilla ‘The Handala’ Detainees Refuse Deportation And Food
By Adalah, The Legal Center for Minority Rights in Israel, Popular Resistance
Update | 28 July 2025, 17:30 Jerusalem Time
Today, Monday 28 July 2025, at 16:00, hearings concluded at Givon Prison, concerning the continued detention of the 14 volunteers who were aboard the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship Handala and refused to consent to an expedited deportation process. The volunteers are on hunger strike. The hearings were held by the Detention Review Tribunal at Givon Prison facility in Ramleh and lasted over six hours. Adalah attorneys Dr. Suhad Bishara and Nareman Shehadeh-Zoabi represented the volunteers before the tribunal.
During the hearings, the volunteers stressed that their mission was humanitarian—motivated by the need to act against Israel’s illegal siege and the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The genocide, now in its 22nd month, has caused mass starvation and deaths from malnutrition, including of dozens of children.
Christian Smalls (United States), reported severe physical violence by Israeli forces. Several female activists described similar abuse and deplorable detention conditions, including a lack of ventilation despite extreme heat and the absence of basic sanitary supplies for women. The activists told the tribunal that they remain on an open hunger strike in protest of their unlawful detention.
https://x.com/GazaFFlotilla/status/1950053773835108448
The activists who appeared before the tribunal today are: Braedon Peluso (United States), Robert Martin (Australia), Tania (Tan) Safi (“Australia”), Justine Kempf (France), Emma Fourreau (France–Sweden), Antonio La Picirella (Italy), Christian Smalls (United States), Chloé Fiona Ludden (United Kingdom–France), Sergio Toribio Sanchez (Spain), Vigdis Bjorvand (Norway), Hatem Aouini (Tunisia), Santiago González Vallejo (Spain), Ange Sahuquet (France), and Dr. Frank Romano (United States–France). Several of the volunteers reported that Israeli authorities applied intense pressure on them yesterday, forcing them to waive their right to meet with a lawyer. This prevented Adalah’s legal team from meeting them at the time; however, the team was able to meet with all volunteers today.
Under Israeli law, the tribunal does not rule on deportation itself but only on continued detention pending deportation. Adalah stressed before the tribunal that the ongoing detention of civilians who were forcibly taken into Israel from international waters while attempting to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. Adalah will continue to pursue their immediate release through all available legal channels.
Update | 28 July 2025, 8:45 PM Jerusalem time
The Israeli Detention Review Tribunal has upheld the continued detention of the 14 volunteers who were aboard the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship Handala and refused to consent to an expedited deportation process, until deportation is carried out. Adalah will continue to provide updates as they come.
The post U.S. Consular Officials from U.S. Embassy-Israel Have NOT Visited US Citizens from Gaza Flotilla Who Have Been in Israeli Prison For Four Days appeared first on World BEYOND War.
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