Adnaan and Tor Stumo, the two Massachusetts men who were detained by Israeli forces while aboard a volunteer flotilla bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza, were released earlier this month. The same day they returned home to the United States, a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas officially came into effect. The brothers, who grew up in a political family, aren't new to activism, especially not for Palestine. Ralph Nader, a lawyer and political activist, is their great uncle.
"Gomez's letter also called for the "safe return" of detained Americans. Gomez's office said it is working with the State Department, the Israeli Embassy and other officials to secure Wilder's safety, provide her with consular access and medical care, and arrange for her eventual release and return to the U.S. In an interview with Democracy Now, Wilder spoke about her involvement with the flotilla, saying the vessel carried primarily medical and media workers."
I was beaten from the moment we entered the port until the very end, said Saverio Tommasi, an Italian journalist. Blows to my back, blows to my head and they [the Israeli soldiers] laughed, laughed at all of it. Anyone who failed to keep their eyes down was punished with a hit to the head. Israeli forces intercepted all the boats of the Global Sumud flotilla (GSF), carrying more than 400 people including parliamentarians and the environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg, last week.
