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| U.S. citizens released from the brutal Israeli prison and bussed to Jordan for departure. |
Carsie Blanton, released from an Israeli prison, arrived in New York on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
"I'm a Jewish American, and in Israeli detention, I was really treated like scum, in the way you read about in the holocaust."
"We have to try and understand it, to end the occupation and the genocide."
The way they were dehumanized, she said she can not imagine what it is like to be a Palestinian in detention.
Carsie was among 24 U.S. citizens imprisoned for nearly a week in Israel's torture prison, Ktzi'ot, in the Negev desert. They were illegally kidnapped on international waters aboard the Sumud Global Flotilla while bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Watch video https://x.com/i/status/1976131287799742932
U.S. citizens describe being beaten and abused in prison, upon arrival in Jordan today.
By Brenda Norrell, Oct. 7, 2025
U.S. citizens on the Global Sumud Flotilla described being beaten and abused in prison, upon arrival in Jordan today. Jordan arranged the bus transport that took them to the airport in Jordan after five days of abuse in Israel's torture prison. U.S. citizens said they were abandoned and left to rot by their government.
Speaking now from the airport in Jordan, Tommy Marcus said the flotilla was violently and illegally raided by Israeli Naval forces, while carrying aid to the starving people of Gaza. Their boats and belongings were all stolen.
"We were zip-tied, brutalized and blindfolded on route to an Israeli internment camp in the Negev desert."
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| Tommy Marcus |
Army veteran Zoe Dubno described the abuse during five days of illegal detention at the Kzti'ot prison in the Negev desert in Israel.
"We were beaten, abused, and denied access to critical medication from day to day," Zoe said, adding that they were denied food, water and legal representation.
"The U.S. government simply abandoned us to rot in the camp."
Leila Hegazy said Palestinians continue to be held in indefinite detention and suffer this abuse of suffering and starvation in prison.
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| David Adler, shown on right, was among the U.S. citizens bussed out of Israel, thanks to arrangements made by the country to Jordan. Adler and the U.S. delegation spoke from the airport in Jordan. |
Journalist and editor David Adler thanked those who worked for their release, with calls, marches and mobilization.
"We are only here and only free because of you."
"We were kidnapped, zip-tied, stripped and blind-folded," David said describing the abuse when they were kidnapped and their boats and clothes stolen. They were handcuffed and placed in solitary confinement when they asked for diabetes and other medications.
Israeli soldiers came into their cells in riot gear with tear gas and attack dogs to terrorize them in their cells.
When they asked the prison guards to talk to their lawyers, they were told that they were not prisoners. They were told that they are terrorists, and terrorists don't get attorneys.
Today, the U.S. consulate told them, "We are not your baby sitters." They were taken to the airport with no food, water or their visas.
David said they were awakened today at 4 a.m. in their prison cells, put in shackles, and not told where they were going. They had no support from the U.S. government to find their way home.
Tommy said this cruelty has only made them more determined.
"We're coming home to keep fighting, alongside you, until all of Palestine is free."
Mandla Mandela spoke from Jordan after being released, among the 131 bussed out by Jordan.
Mandla Mandela spoke from Jordan after being released, among the 131 bussed out by Jordan.
"We are reporting that our comrades from the Sumud Global Flotilla are safe and are coming home," he said, adding a message to his wife to tell his children he is coming home. "She must tell my kids that daddy is coming home."
The flotilla said that six of the participants -- from Morocco, Norway and Spain -- remain imprisoned after being illegally abducted in international waters. "Their detention is not just unlawful, it is a punishment for solidarity itself."
Jordan arranges release of U.S. and global citizens
Israel deported 131 activists from the intercepted Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla to Jordan via the Allenby Bridge crossing between the kingdom and the West Bank, Jordanian state media reported Tuesday.
The deportation brings the number of activists still detained in Israel to no more than seven, after at least 472 have been deported.
The activists deported to Jordan included one Jordanian citizen and activists from Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Oman, Kuwait, Libya, Pakistan, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Japan, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Serbia, Mexico, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the UK and the US, said Jordanian foreign ministry spokesman Fuad Al-Majali, according to the AlMamlaka news outlet.
Jordanian authorities organized the transportation to the kingdom in coordination with their home nations.
Read more:
Greta Thunberg's powerful speech upon release, at Censored News.
Greg Stoker Released Today, Second U.S. Citizen on Flotilla Released from Israel's Torture Prison
"My name is Greg Stoker, I'm a U.S. citizen and journalist with Mint Press News. During the past five days we were kidnapped in international waters and taken to a terrorist detention camp in the middle of the Negev Desert, no one knew where we are," Greg said today, Monday, in a video statement.
Greg said that all of their medications and clothes were taken from them. The former U.S. Army Ranger is on his way home to Austin, Texas, after being released from the brutal Ktzi'ot prison in Israel.
Greg spoke from the airport in Slovenia today.
"I am out of Israeli detention, along with one other release, 'Mo,' a Marine Corps veteran."
In prison the conditions were what you would expect from a terror gulag, he said.
"Basically no showers, food scarcity, a lot of people are on hunger strike in protest of them withholding insulin from some of our detainees."
"We were told there are no doctors for animals."
Greg said the process of being released was insane, and Israel violated its own laws by failing to release the flotilla members in 24 to 72 hours for self deportation.
"That hasn't happened."
"There was no transparency, none of us have seen lawyers."
Greg said he was probably released due to pressure from his own local representatives in Texas.
Greg said he was released at the "last second on the charter flight arranged by Slovakians to get me out of the country."
"We need to keep pushing and fighting to get the other people released. This is insane."
Greg said what they went through in prison is one-tenth, maybe less, of what Palestinians go through in extra-judicial detention in Israeli terror prisons.
Greg was on the Sumud Global Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. Greg is on his way home to Austin. Greg is the second of 23 imprisoned U.S. citizens released. The rest remain imprisoned in Israel's torture prison. Windfield Beaver of California was released and arrived in Turkey.
Greg was on the Sumud Global Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. Greg is on his way home to Austin. Greg is the second of 23 imprisoned U.S. citizens released. The rest remain imprisoned in Israel's torture prison. Windfield Beaver of California was released and arrived in Turkey.
Nelson Mandela's grandson remained imprisoned. Greta Thunberg was released today and arrived in Greece.
The first group released, of Turkish and Malaysian activists, described Greta being dragged by her hair, and the women being caged in dog cages and forced to drink toilet water. The men were woken in the night by snipers with attack dogs, and were threatened with death. The women said that women prisoners had written on the walls in blood the names of their children.
U.S. Citizens Among 171 Released Today, Most Remain Imprisoned
BREAKING: 171 Global Sumud Flotilla participants, including Greta Thunberg, have been deported to Greece and Slovakia. These heroes stood for Gaza — and the world is watching, She was held in a filthy, insect-infested cell. The same cells Palestinian detainees are kept in while being tortured. Images were shared by Israel’s MFA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before deportation," flotilla said today.
Those released are citizens of Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia, and the United States.
On Hunger Strike in Israel's Violent Prison
Jasmine Ikeda of Orcas Island in Washington State, Stephen Wahab of Portland, Oregon, and Phil Tottenham, U.S. Marine from Texas living in Toledo, Ohio, are on a hunger strike in the violent Israeli prison where the flotilla members are imprisoned.
The first flotilla volunteers released, most from Turkey and Malaysia, report beatings, having to drink toilet water, and being threatened with death.
Drop Site News said the Global Sumud Flotilla volunteers are now on collective hunger strike inside Israeli prisons.
Since their interception on October 1, they have "refused to be fed by the same entity carrying out a genocidal starvation campaign against millions of Palestinians in Gaza," the organizers said. The list of confirmed hunger strikers spans more than a dozen countries.
In a video statement made before her illegal arrest in international water, Jasmine said, "Hi, I am Jasmine Ikeda, and I am born and raised in the illegally-occupied Nation of Hawaii and holding a U.S. passport. If you are watching this video, it means that I have been illegally kidnapped by the IOF for attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza."
"Please, demand of the U.S. government to stop the genocide, and stop supplying Israel with funds and weapons of mass destruction, and please demand the release and safety of me and my comrades. Thank you."
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(Above and below) Zue Jernstedt, a New Orleans resident from New York, is one of five U.S. veterans now imprisoned in a violent Israeli prison. Family and friends of the U.S. veterans have received no news from them, after Israeli forces arrested them in international waters. They were delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza on the Sumud Global Flotilla. The first group released, including those from Turkey and Malaysia, reported beatings and being denied water, food and medicines while imprisoned at Ktzi'ot prison in the Negev desert in Israel. Women were caged in dog kennels and drank toilet water, and men reported snipers threatening to kill them in the night with attack dogs. Watch video https://x.com/i/status/1974726329988960539 |
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Windfield Beaver of California was the first U.S. citizen on the Sumud Global Flotilla released and deported today. Windfield Beaver said Israel treated Greta Thunberg terribly. "She was treated terribly, you know. I mean, she was like they draped her in an Israeli flag and they just pushed and pulled her wherever they wanted and for whatever propaganda they wanted." "As a US citizen, I felt so helpless in this this genocide to to have any effect to have any action. And so I could use my words. I could like go to protest, but it was it was for nothing. But then suddenly there was an opportunity to actually take my life and and put it against this cause." A fellow activist said she was not given water and food and had to drink from the toilet water, she said in an interview with TRT. link  Tucson 'No More Deaths' Volunteer Awaits Hearing in Israeli Prison Logan Hollarsmith, captain of the Ohwayla, known as the veterans boat on the Global Sumud Flotilla, is imprisoned in the violent Israeli prison. The No More Deaths volunteer is scheduled for a hearing at the prison on Tuesday, his mother said.  Singer Songwriter Carsie Blanton's Husband: No Response from U.S. State Department The husband of singer songwriter Carsie Blanton said the U.S. State Department is failing to respond and protect those in Ktzi'ot prison. "The United States State Department has yet to take any action in response to our repeated pleas to protect U.S. citizens in illegal detention in Israeli prison," Jon said today. Jon said regardless of peoples beliefs, he hopes everyone can agree that the United States has a fundamental obligation to protect U.S. citizens and veterans from political violence from any foreign government. "Carsie is heartfelt and she is brave," said Jon, urging people to call their Congressional representatives and have them call the U.S. State Department. link  "I am an American citizen, and I'm a Jewish person, and I'm a musician. And for all those reasons I determine it is my duty to make a problem for my own government because it is enabling a genocide in Gaza. There are more than 500 of us on this mission, probably all of us are currently in Israeli detention." Carsie said her message is to support their release, and for others to organize with others, and make a problem for their government, make it politically impossible for others to continue supporting the genocide. |
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| U.S. Veterans on Sumud Global Flotilla |
Families of U.S. citizens now in an Israeli prison, are desperate to hear the condition of their loved ones. The U.S. government is not helping. News came today of the abuse of Tommy Marcus of New York, who was thrown down by Israeli forces and his back is injured. He remains incarcerated in the violent prison in the Negev desert.
Windfield Beaver from California arrived in Turkey today, among 137 released.
Of the nearly 500 on the flotilla who were illegally arrested in international waters on the Global Sumud Flotilla, 137 were released today and arrived at the Turkish airport. The location and condition of nearly two dozen U.S. citizens, including U.S. veterans, is unknown.
David Adler, a Jewish American political economist and co-general coordinator of Progressive International, was detained by Israel on Oct 2, 2025, during the Global Sumud Flotilla's attempt to deliver aid to Gaza. He remains in custody, with concerns raised for his safety.
Passengers from Malaysia, US, UAE, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Jordan arrived on the plane.
Windfield Beaver’s brother, Ben Beaver, said his brother, Windfield, grew up in Forks of Salmon and later made a home in the eastern remote part of Humboldt County, in the enclave of Orleans, where he has lived for 20 years. Feeling compelled to offer his services as a mechanic to the GSF, Beaver was added to the crew of the Ohwayla – better known as the “Veterans boat."
Turkish activists arriving in Turkey report brutal treatment in detention. Read more at Censored News. link
Tommy Marcus Injured by Israeli's Violence
Tommy was thrown on his back by Israelis during detention, hurting his back. He remains in prison waiting for deportation.
"My name is Tommy Marcus and I'm a citizen of the United States," Tommy said in a video before his arrest at sea by Israel. "My message from Israeli custody is that I'm happy I went on this mission. As you're listening to this, Israel is most likely continuing their goal of the genocide of Palestinian people, and erasing all who live there. I knew what I signed up for, and am willing to take the punishment, and will continue to do so. Thank you and Free Palestine." Tommy is from New York.
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| Geraldine Ramirez of Arizona illegally detained by Israel. |
Israel said that the flotilla members will spend nights in the violent Ketziot prison before being deported. Israel said a total of 470 activists were processed at Ashdod port by Thursday evening.
UK families said their government told them that Israel would not start deportations before Sunday or Monday, meaning activists could be expected to spend a number of nights in Ketziot prison.
Governments and families around the world are demanding their release, and tell Israel they were illegally kidnapped in international waters while delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Indigenous women, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, U.S. citizens, and legislators from around the world were aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla.
BELLINGHAM, Washington -- Activists are urging the release of an Orcas Islander who was illegally abducted by Israel in the Sumud Global Flotilla, demanding Jasmine Ikeda's release. Activists said the genocide, and the public support for the flotilla, are rising fast, and is urging action. Listen: https://www.instagram.com/bellinghamaction4palestine/
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| https://www.instagram.com/p/DPVCAbxDDJ3/?hl=en |
"My sister Leila was kidnapped by the IOF yesterday along with almost 500 people of conscience from 46 countries from across the world."
Pointing out that Leila was sailing with baby formula, diabetes medication and rice, Leila's sister said, "Israel saw this as a threat to their plans to eliminate the Palestinian people."
"We don't know where she is being held -- or when she will come home," Omnia Hegazy said today.
"She was sailing to Gaza because babies, and their parents, are being starved by an Apartheid State, an ethno state, with the backing of the U.S. empire."
Omnia said the Palestinian people are facing genocide and bombing, bankrolled by the U.S. government -- and yet they are asking her if her sister is OK.
"That is the beauty of the Palestine people," she said.
"The world stands with Palestine, because the people know what is just."
Sister Urges Release: Artist and activist Omnia Hegazy speaks out about kidnapped Global Sumud Flotilla activist Leila Hegazy. Along with Carsie Blanton, Leila is representing @againstapartheid.art on the flotilla, which was bringing urgently needed humanitarian aid to Gaza until intercepted yesterday by Israeli forces.
"Artists and people of conscious everywhere know it is our responsibility to demand an end to this brutal genocide, which is funded and backed by the US government. We demand the release of all of the nearly 500 activists who were part of the humanitarian mission to deliver aid!"
"Artists and people of conscious everywhere know it is our responsibility to demand an end to this brutal genocide, which is funded and backed by the US government. We demand the release of all of the nearly 500 activists who were part of the humanitarian mission to deliver aid!"
Sister and brother rally for her release: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPVCAbxDDJ3/?hl=en
"Hello, I am Torleif Stumo from the U.S. If you are watching this video it means that I have been abducted by the IOF and taken to Israel against my will. Please put pressure on my government to end their complicity and bring me home." Torleif was aboard the Huga boat.
"My name is Adnaan Stumo. I am a citizen of the U.S. If you are watching this video, I have been abducted by the Israeli occupation forces." Adnaan is from Massachusetts and aboard the Mikeno. link
The Guardian reports that the flotilla’s live tracker, shows the Mikeno appears to have crossed into Gaza’s territorial waters, idling 9 miles off the coast before being intercepted.
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"My name is Alex Colston, I am a citizen of the United States. If you are watching this video I have been abducted and taken against my will by Israeli forces. Our humanitarian mission was non-violent and abiding by international law. Please tell my government to demand my immediate release." Alex was on the Sirius boat.
"My name is Christopher Hausler, I am a citizen of the United States. If you are watching this video I have been abducted and taken against my will by Israeli forces. Our humanitarian mission was non-violent and abiding by international law. Please tell my government to demand my immediate release."
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US nationals aboard the Sumud Flotilla vessels
Phil Tottenham – Ohio – Veteran
Zue Jernstedt – New York – Veteran
Greg Stoker – Texas – Veteran
Zuleyka Morales Rivera – West Virginia
Jessica Kaye Clotfelter – Illinois
Logan Hollarsmith – Arizona
Windfield Beaver – California
Najeh Abduljalil – Nevada
Michael Fix – New York
Tom Marcus – New York
Hannah Smith – Colorado
Geraldine Ramirez – Arizona
Stephen Wahab – Oregon
Leila Hegazy – New York
Idris Hausler – U.S. citizen (resides in Netherlands)
Frank Romano – New York
Carsie Blanton-Paola – New Jersey
Eric Lein-Jeannot III – New York
Adnaan Stumo-Mikeno – Massachusetts
Tor Stumo-Huga – Massachusetts
Paul Reid-Hio – Oregon
Jasmine Ikeda-Meteque – Washington
David Adler -- California
A Message from Gaza: With Hope for Justice
To the people of the world: Our message today carries sorrow and truth. Over 450 volunteers of the Global Sumud Flotilla have been taken, another cruelty inflicted upon the people of Gaza.
We speak for every heart in Gaza that only wishes to live, love and dream.
Even as bombs fall and neighborhoods shake, we still believe in the free people of the world. Your courage and every act of solidarity have shown that light can break through the darkest reality.
We dream of a horizon filled with countless sails, carrying compassion and humanity toward Gaza. We are waiting.
With love, faith and hope for justice.
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