'We screamed for medicine but Israel didn’t give us a single pill' - Dr Fauziah recounts harrowing experience in Israeli detention
During the detention, she said medical supplies and aid were confiscated and could not be used, even though some activists were in urgent need of treatment.
SHAH ALAM - Humanitarian activist Dr Fauziah Muhammad Hassan shares her distressing experience of being detained by Israeli forces during a humanitarian voyage to Gaza, where volunteers were denied medical aid and held in harsh conditions.
The cries for medicine echoed through the prison, yet not a single pill was given by the Zionist regime to the humanitarian volunteers, she said.
Dr Fauziah was detained by Israeli forces during the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) x Thousand Madleens to Gaza (TMTG) mission recently.
She recalled that during the detention, medical supplies and aid were confiscated and could not be used, even though some activists were in urgent need of treatment.
“In the past, there was no problem, but now Israel seizes all the medicines.
“It may be fine if the detention lasts a day or two, but if it is longer and without medicine, it can affect one’s health.
“While we were in prison, some of us were sick and injured.
“Our fellow activists screamed for their medicine, but Israel did not give a single pill. That is how cruel they are,” she said.
She shared her story during the "Misi Flotilla, ‘Mak Online’ & Apa Selepas Ini" Interviu programme hosted by Haizir Othman at the Karangkraf Complex, here on Wednesday.
Dr Fauziah, who is also an obstetrician and gynaecologist said the volunteers were locked for hours in a hot, airless room while being guarded by heavily armed soldiers.
She said the Israeli forces tried to create a false narrative by recording pictures and videos to make it appear as though they were treating the the detained volunteers well.
She said they arrived in helicopters, fully dressed and armed, acting as though they were giving us food and water, but those items actually belonged to the volunteers.
She added that the Israeli forces acted as if they were humane, but in reality, they were not.
Dr Fauziah, who had previously joined the Women’s Boat to Gaza mission in 2016 said this mission was far more challenging as the Zionist regime acted more aggressively and without compassion.
“In the past, they captured us, the elderly women, unarmed, but this time they came as if they were going to war.
“Nevertheless, we remained calm and prayed that the voyage would bring meaning to the people of Gaza,” she said.
The FFC x TMTG humanitarian mission involved about 150 activists from 25 countries sailing on nine ships, including the Conscience and Umm Saad, before being intercepted by the Israeli forces less than 120 nautical miles from Gaza on Oct 8.
Eight Malaysians were on board the Conscience ship: Professor Emeritus Dr Mohd Alauddin Mohd Ali (Head of Delegation); Dr Fauziah; Dr Hafiz Sulaiman; Dr Ili Syakira Mohd Suhaimi; Professor Dr Mohd Afandi Salleh; Dr Noorhasyimah Ismail; Norsham Abu Bakar; and Astro Awani journalist Syafik Shukri Abdul Jalil.
Another Malaysian activist, Dr Maziah Muhammad, a medical doctor, was aboard the Umm Saad.
Download Sinar Daily application.Click Here!
