Michael Coleman, an Australian citizen on a peace flotilla that attempted to enter Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, says fellow activists have been beaten up and tasered by the Israeli forces. 27 people have been detained; among them is Coleman, following Israeli interception of Irish-flagged Saoirse (Freedom) and the Canadian ship Tahrir (Arabic for Liberation) in international waters off Gaza on Saturday. According to Israeli military, the navy then escorted the activists to the port of Ashdod. However Coleman's father, John Coleman explained the transition from interception to escorting the activists wasn't as peaceful. John Coleman said he had spoken with his son, who was aboard the Tahrir and also had a letter smuggled out by a Canadian activist to his lawyer. “That indicates the ship was bombarded by a water cannon and then the 30 commandos boarded,” said John Coleman. “One of the Canadian (activists), David Heat, was tasered and the others were beaten or roughed up as they refused to leave the ship at Ashdod port. “After they were forcibly removed from the ship, they were placed in handcuffs and leg shackles and driven to a prison about 10km from Tel Aviv.” John Coleman believes his son could be deported as soon as this week. “That process takes 72 hours. We fully expect that Mike will be back in Australia on Thursday or Friday of this coming week.” In May 2010 activists organized an attempt to break the Israeli blockade when six ships which unfortunately led to violence, with Israeli troops intercepting the flotilla and killing nine Turkish activists. Earlier this year, a second flotilla tried to reach Gaza, however activists say several ships were sabotaged by Israeli forces, thereby ending the effort to break the blockade. Israel says the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from entering the coastal territory, which is run by Hamas. BM
