A dad from Reading who took part in an aid flotilla to Gaza has explained what it is like to be captured by Israeli forces.
His odyssey involved sailing from Spain, being intercepted by the Israeli navy and mistreated before being deported.
Jubair Khan, a father of three from Reading, also overheard horrific beatings and even appeared in footage featuring a Zionist Israeli minister taunting the captives.
This is Mr Khan’s story of how he took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla.
He said: “We started our journey in Tarragona on April 2.
“We stopped off a few times at ports to resupply, then sail again. The first stop was Palermo, Sicily.
“We had some training in Certaro, Italy, about what might happen, then we stopped at Syracuse, then Symi, Greece with Marmaris, Turkey being the last leg.
“We were intercepted near Cyprus, a few miles away from Gaza.
“We were travelling for a few days at that point; we were two to three days from Gaza, as we covered about 100 nautical miles each day.
“We knew there was a chance of interception – in April the Israelis seized 22 boats, so we had a feeling they could come out into international waters, it was a constant risk..”
While it has been suggested that the flotilla could have dropped off its supplies at the Israeli port of Ashdod, Mr Khan stated this was not the case.
He said: “There was no communication from the Israelis. What they are supposed to do before they abduct you is radio you to turn around, or they would ask to take aid, and say they would do it for us.
“That morning was strange – they jammed our radio with American rock music.
“This is how radios work – if someone is using the signal, you have to wait for them to finish, then reply.
“Our communications were jammed, they approached and boarded the ship in international waters, then abducted us.
“There were five people on our ship, two of whom were doctors trying to treat people.
“From our boat, we were transferred to a prison ship with really bad conditions.
“We were taken from our boat onto a speedboat onto this big cargo ship fitted with barbed wire and shipping containers turned into holding cells.
“They took all our belongings away, there were bright lights, and we were dazed, and they forced our heads down.
“The prison area was made up of shipping containers round the edge, with a communal area with a few portable toilets; it was topped with barbed wire and we were guarded by soldiers.
“We had to sleep inhumanely, the containers were overcrowded, we were packed like sardines – I had to sleep standing up – an elderly man was freezing.
“If we’d ever gather in the central area to speak, they started shooting us with rubber bullets, and they’d flood the courtyard, and it was mixed with toilet water, filth everywhere, sleeping in filth. That was for three days.
“The soldiers had no sense of being professional, they were being brutal and aggressive, and were trying to get a response from us.
“We were non-violent and peaceful – we did our protest and resisted – but were never violent or provocative.”
He then implied one of his colleagues was sexually assaulted.
Mr Khan said: “Before we were off the boat, the soldiers came on, picked a guy, a Turkish sailor, they took him round the corner – I’ve never heard screaming like that.
“Our ringleader demanded that he be brought back and we heard a gun going off.”
The group were then taken to Ashdod, which is 43 km from Gaza.
Mr Kan said: “They took us through a process where they removed our clothes and ziptied us.
“They told me ‘welcome to Israel motherf***er!’
“I was beaten for under 30 seconds – they took me into a tent for a metal detector scan – they told me to spread my legs while standing, which I complied with.
“While one soldier was scanning my legs, two others beat with fists.
“My natural instinct was to use my zip-tied hands to protect my head, so they targeted my ribs.
“I now have a broken rib which pops out of place every time I tie my shoelaces.”
Footage has emerged of Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli minister of national security, taunting the captives.
Mr Ben-Gvir was born in Jerusalem to Jewish parents from Iraqi Kurdistan, and lives in Kiryat Arba, located in the occupied West Bank – which is an illegal settlement according to international law.
Mr Khan said: “I was placed in a prostrate position for two to three hours while they played the Israeli national anthem.
“Other prisoners’ hands were going blue, people struggling to breathe.
“I’m in a video wearing a t-shirt with a jujitsu logo on the back which my family spotted.
“We were put in cages, and someone prominent came to that cage saying horrible things, they were speaking in English.”
After this maltreatment, members of the flotilla were deported to Istanbul, Türkiye.
Mr Khan said: “As far as I understand, their policy is to deport people ASAP, mainly to prevent international pressure mounting against them.
“They transferred us to an air base with planes ready to fly us out to Türkiye.
“But we were not told anything; we were kept in the dark; you have no idea where you were going.
“Some were transported to different prisons, I’ve heard people have been held three to five days, but they’ve passed a law to try and deport within 24 hours.
“I have a feeling of overwhelming guilt and sadness, as Palestinians are not getting the same treatment – they are getting far worse, with no due process.
“When we landed in Istanbul, they had a good system, they greeted us, looked after us, then transported us to a hospital where we were fed and they checked for our injuries.
“I didn’t get it as bad as some other people, they were covered in bruises, and some had been sexually assaulted.
“I myself just have one broken rib, I just have to let it heal, then we were allowed to give a statement to lawyers and police, so proceedings can be filed against the State of Israel.
“I opted to come home ASAP, so I got a flight; then the next day – some people had to be treated for three days depending on the severity of their injuries.”
Mr Khan landed at Heathrow Airport on Thursday, May 21, where he was greeted by family and friends.
Shortly afterwards, he met with councillors Rob White (Green, Park) and Jacqueline Dominguez (Green, Abbey) with a photo showing him making a hand gesture.
Explaining himself, Mr Khan said: “The peace sign is the one Thiago Ávila, the head of the Sumud movement, made from an Israeli prison. It’s a peace sign so it’s not provocative and non-violent.
“We’re activists breaking an illegal blockade by bringing aid.
“People can use fists, which is perfectly valid. I chose to do the peace sign as it is recognised as a symbol of peace, harmony and humanity.
“I’ve been someone who has done Palestine activism since 2009 when I graduated.
“Growing up, I saw there was a need for people to support Palestinians in their struggle, who have been misrepresented and sidelined by the international community, Palestinian land has been stolen and settled.
“I’ve always been close to the cause.
“Since the genocide began, the violence has escalated, so I wanted direct action, to make a material impact of change.
“Someone who is now a good friend came to my community and said they needed people to help. I thought they were asking for donations, but they were asking for people to join the flotilla.
“I’m not a sailor, but I can do film. I knew there was some risk – I couldn’t raise kids in this world where this is happening.
“I knew last year, the flotilla of 50 boats got really close, 18 miles away.
“The people of Gaza could see the boats – the Israeli navy were so overwhelmed that Gazans were able to fish in their own waters, which they have been prevented from doing so illegally by the blockade.
“The Israelis have changed their strategy to intercept boats in international waters, making it difficult.
“I’m someone who is very optimistic – a lot of people were preparing for the interception, and I kept hopes up that we were gonna make it.
“When the Israelis capture ships, they destroy them or let them drift.
“Some of the boats that have drifted have reached Gaza.
“So even though we were not able to physically go, our efforts were not in vain.
“Despite our treatment being brutal, it shines a light on the conditions Palestinian prisoners go through.
“We are people of the West with privileged passports – so you can imagine how much worse the treatment the Palestinians get.
“We may think our success is through reaching Gaza, what is a success is highlighting what happens to prisoners, and some boats broke the blockade.
Mr Khan, 38, has returned safely to wife, his 13-year-old daughter and his sons, aged five and 10.
What is next for him and his colleagues?
Mr Khan said: “Now, it’s a case of telling the world about what we saw, keep the movement going – to get support through other avenues, like Egypt.
“It’s really important we get more friends and family involved in this mission, people are unaware of why we’re doing it and are misinformed.
“Just like in South Africa, apartheid ended; this apartheid can eventually end as well.
“The brutality and extremity of their [Zionist] actions seems desperate – these are the final extreme acts of a regime that knows it’s in the wrong, so we’re going to keep up that pressure.”
Responding to the allegations that British citizens and those in the flotilla were mistreated, a spokesperson for The Embassy of Israel in London said: “The State of Israel completely rejects the allegations made by Hamas-affiliated activists involved in the ‘flotilla’.
“Israel will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.
“As stated by the Board of Peace, the ‘flotilla’ is a distasteful PR stunt designed to exploit the suffering caused by Hamas.
“Actions of this kind only divert attention from Hamas’s refusal to disarm and from efforts to help the people of Gaza free themselves from its control.
“They have done nothing to support humanitarian efforts or the people of Gaza, which are currently being led by the Board of Peace in coordination with regional partners and international agencies.”
