Photo is taken by a member of Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine at the Ohio State University
Maju Brunette was met by several dozen supporters carrying flowers, balloons, and signs as she arrived at Columbus International Airport. She thanked the crowd and told them:“I am free now, but do not forget about the 10,000 other Palestinian hostages still being held in Israel who may face execution soon.”
Dr. Maria Julia “Maju” Brunette, an Associate Professor of Global Health Equity at The Ohio State University, was one of 430 people kidnapped in international waters by Israeli forces on May 18 while aboard the Sumud Flotilla.
All hostages were taken to a large vessel—described as a “floating prison”—where they were kept in cages for two days, sleeping on the floor with their hands tied behind their backs and without a mattress, pillow, or blanket. They were later transported to Israel, where they were interrogated and tortured. Some activists reported being raped. The only food provided was bread and water.
This week, Israel’s extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir sparked global outrage after promoting a video of himself taunting activists from the flotilla who had been abducted and tortured in custody.
Australian activist Juliet Lamont spoke publicly about the torture she endured in Israeli custody:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18R7hDdrqK/
“They took pleasure in beating me and sexually assaulting me.”
Another Australian activist said:Another Australian activist has this to say, “Those monsters [Israelis] took pleasure in beating me, in sexually assaulting me and my friends. They removed our clothes, endured us with cold weather and forced us to kneel on the ground with the head on the floor and said, ‘IF YOU LIFT YOUR HEAD WE WILL SHOOT YOU’”
https://x.com/Partisan_12/status/2058080732866875602?s=20
“Those monsters took pleasure in beating me, in sexually assaulting me and my friends. They removed our clothes, exposed us to cold weather, and forced us to kneel on the ground with our heads on the floor. They said, ‘If you lift your head, we will shoot you.’”
Additional testimonies from released hostages include:
- Canadian writer Ehab Lotayef, one of eleven Canadians abducted, said he was stabbed in the hand by a soldier for giving water to another hostage. He has since lost sensation in that hand.
- Forty released hostages suffered broken ribs and collapsed lungs.
- Seven people sustained head injuries, two of them severe.
- Several hostages suffered collapsed lungs due to torture and violent beatings.
- Fifteen freed hostages have reported sexual assault so far.
- Juliet Graham of Melbourne, Australia, said at least one person remained hospitalized for surgery due to injuries.
- Italian economist Luca Poggi reported: “We were stripped, thrown to the ground, kicked. Many of us were tasered, some were sexually assaulted, and some were denied access to a lawyer.”
- Hostages reported being kicked, punched, spat on, and refused access to medication, doctors, or lawyers.
- Women were denied menstrual pads.
- Many freed hostages are now considering lawsuits against the State of Israel for kidnapping, rape, and torture.
Hundreds of Global Sumud Flotilla activists released from Israeli detention | ABC NEWS YouTube
Following international outrage over the torture video, the Spanish government announced sanctions against Israeli ministers Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, banning them from entering Spain. Spain joins the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand in imposing similar measures.
U.S. Senators Demand Answers
Senators Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Chris Van Hollen, Ed Markey, and Jeff Merkley sent a letter to the U.S. State Department questioning why the U.S. failed to protect American citizens detained from the Global Sumud Flotilla.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem condemned the flotilla as a “pro‑Hamas initiative” and did not address the mistreatment of detainees—meaning the criticism came from Senators, not the executive branch.
Shamefully, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on several European activists aboard the flotilla, labeling them “pro‑terror.” The Trump administration is clearly on the wrong side of history.
Irish activist Catriona Grahm shouted "free, free, Palestine" as Ben Gvir as he walked by her in a detention facility. Photo credit: RET
Irish Activist Catriona Graham Speaks Out
Irish activist Catriona Graham shouted “Free, free Palestine!” as Ben‑Gvir walked past her in a detention facility. She later said she could not remain silent in the face of his actions.
Graham, who also participated in the 2025 flotilla, told Irish broadcaster RTÉ:
“As he passed through and tried to insult many of us—just as he does to so many Palestinian prisoners—I could not stay silent. Knowing the horrific crimes he has committed, I shouted, ‘Free, free Palestine.’”
Who Is Maju Brunette?
Maju Brunette is a Peruvian‑born Associate Professor at The Ohio State University specializing in health equity for historically marginalized communities in the Americas. She co‑designs global public health interventions through a decolonizing and gender‑equity lens. Her work has received funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. She focuses on challenges within Peru’s fragmented healthcare system and has been widely published.
Below is an Interview with Maju Brunette, Academic, activist and member of the #globalsumudflotilla.
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?
Protests in Spain
Demonstrations erupted in Bilbao, Spain, after Basque police attacked activists from the Global Flotilla at Bilbao Airport. Protesters said the mobilization was organized to denounce the “repressive force” used by Basque security forces.
Maju Brunette and the Sumud Flotilla Crews Are Heroes
As a Palestinian American, I am deeply grateful to all members of the Sumud Flotilla. They are heroes who risked their lives and careers to defend Palestinian human rights while Palestinians were being slaughtered and starved. They sailed across the Mediterranean to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Their mission represents nonviolent resistance, courage, and global unity in the struggle for justice and dignity.
Community Support in Columbus
The welcome rally at the airport was organized by Baladna: Palestine Society of Columbus, a newly established volunteer‑run organization that supports civic, social, cultural, and educational engagement within the Palestinian community in Central Ohio.
A Baladna spokesperson said:
“We are here to support Maju and her courageous journey to stand in solidarity with Palestine and break the siege on Gaza.”
Maju—whose name means “warrior” in Greek—thanked supporters and reminded them:
“I am free now, but do not forget about the 10,000 other Palestinian hostages still being held in Israel who may face execution soon.”
Mahmoud El‑Yousseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes on U.S. foreign policy, Middle East affairs, and justice. Email: elyousseph6@yahoo.com
