Danish activist released after detention in Israel condemns treatment of Gaza flotilla protesters

A Danish pro-Palestinian activist detained by Israeli forces during an attempt to break the naval blockade of Gaza returned to Copenhagen Airport on Friday, where she accused Israeli authorities of systematic abuse against protesters and Palestinians.

Tara Adler, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla of over 400 activists, was among those arrested Monday when Israeli forces intercepted their vessels. Speaking to public broadcaster DR upon arrival, Adler described witnessing what she called the “evil” inflicted daily on Palestinians.

“For three days, I saw some of the cruelty that Palestinians have endured for nearly 80 years,” Adler said. She acknowledged she had not suffered the worst treatment herself but alleged that Israeli forces routinely used “physical violence and torture techniques” against detained activists, including rubber bullets, beatings, stress positions, and humiliation.

Adler defended the flotilla’s mission despite knowing Israeli forces would intercept them, stating, “We went because Palestinians have spoken about this, because we’ve marched in the streets here for 2.5 years, and you [politicians and media] do nothing. Denmark is complicit in this genocide.”

Her claims could not be independently verified by DR.

The activists’ detention drew international criticism after Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a video titled “Welcome to Israel” showing kneeling detainees with their foreheads pressed to the ground while he taunted them, saying, “They came as great heroes. Look at them now.”

Danish acting Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen condemned the video as “utterly appalling” and called for stronger sanctions against Israel during a NATO meeting in Helsingborg. He singled out Ben-Gvir—who has advocated for illegal West Bank settlements—as a target for potential EU sanctions, though Rasmussen acknowledged lack of bloc-wide support for such measures.

“Several of us want to sanction the most extremist settlers and the two ministers driving this, but we haven’t secured European backing yet,” he said.