UN rights office flags ill treatment of Gaza flotilla activists detained in Israel

The UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said on Monday that his office had received worrying information about the ill treatment of Global Sumud Flotilla activists detained in Israel, Anadolu news agency reported. 

"We have received worrying information of ill treatment and violations of due process rights of the flotilla participants," the spokesperson said. 

He added that the office "has long raised the alarm regarding the intentionally degrading conditions" in Israeli prisons and detention centres.

More than 400 activists, parliamentarians and lawyers were detained after Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza-bound aid flotilla earlier this week.

Some of the detainees have since been deported, while proceedings for others are still under way.

Spanish activists on the flotilla alleged on Monday that they had suffered mistreatment and violation of their rights by Israeli authorities.

Earlier, Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said that allegations regarding the abusive treatment of climate activist Greta Thunberg are "very serious" if confirmed.