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Mass. brothers detained by Israeli forces have been released, now in Jordan
The two brothers say they faced abuse after their humanitarian aid vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces.
Two Massachusetts brothers who were detained after Israeli forces intercepted an international humanitarian aid mission have been released, their mother confirmed.
Adnaan and Torleif Stumo, both from Sheffield, were sailing with the Global Sumud Flotilla, a volunteer coalition arranged to deliver food and aid to Gaza, when their boats were intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). They, along with more than 450 other volunteers from 45 countries, were then brought to the port of Ashdod and held at Ketziot prison in the Negev desert.
Nadia Milleron, the brothers’ mother, first caught wind that her sons had been released when she spotted them in a video of detainees being ushered out of a prison transport trailer. She shared her excitement and relief with a screenshot of them in an Instagram post.
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“Thank you to everyone for contacting your government officials, for sharing posts about my sons and the Flotilla, and for all of your messages of love and support,” Milleron said in the post. “I am so very grateful for all of you.”
The brothers are currently in Jordan and will return to the United States later this week, according to Milleron. Upon their expected arrival Friday morning at Dulles International Airport, they plan to share their experiences as part of a brief press conference.
While the Stumo brothers were detained, they went on a hunger strike in protest, Milleron told Boston.com. They later told her that they suffered abuse at the hands of Israeli forces during the interception of their vessels and subsequent imprisonment.
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When the brothers were brought to the prison, Torleif refused to give up his passport and insisted on giving it to his attorney, whom he had not yet been allowed to see, Milleron said. In response, Israeli forces took his passport and beat him, rendering him unable to stand and leaving him with nerve damage to his hand.
Adnaan was also injured during the interception of his boat, “Mikeno,” when he was sprayed in the back of the head with a high-pressure water cannon, but he has since recovered, according to Milleron. The brothers were held in the same cell, so they were able to look out for each other during their imprisonment, she said.
As of Wednesday night, six flotilla volunteers were still being held by Israeli forces, the coalition reported on its website. Numerous participants, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, have come forward citing abuse by Israeli forces during their detainment, which the Israel Foreign Ministry has vehemently denied.
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