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Sumud activists thank Kuwait, recount ordeal
KUWAIT: Two Kuwaiti activists who were detained by the Zionist entity after joining an international flotilla to deliver aid to Gaza thanked the Kuwaiti leadership and people, adding they are undergoing medical checkups in Turkey before returning home. Dr Mohammed Jamal and Abdullah Al-Mutawaa were among hundreds of activists on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted en route to the besieged Palestinian territory.
“We’ve now arrived at the hospital because there are some medical tests we need to undergo due to the very harsh detention conditions we experienced,” Jamal said in a video shared with Kuwait News and Kuwait Times from Istanbul. The two activists, along with more than 130 other participants, were freed Saturday following diplomatic efforts by Kuwait and other regional partners. An evacuation flight brought them safely to Istanbul.
Both men described harsh treatment during their detention but said they were deeply grateful for the support they’ve received from Kuwait’s leadership and people. A third Kuwaiti participant, Khalid Al-Abduljader, remains in Zionist entity custody. “Our focus now is on our brother Khalid Al-Abduljader and his safe return before we head back, God willing,” said Jamal.
Dr Mohammed Jamal
Al-Mutawaa said he was moved by the national response to their ordeal. “I thank God we made it out from very brutal hands and terrible treatment,” he said. “I was astonished — God bless — by what happened in Kuwait, from the people, the leadership and the government. Endless thanks, as vast as the sky and the sea we were in.”
He added that Kuwait’s Embassy officials in Turkey were already waiting when they arrived and have continued to follow up on their recovery. “They keep calling to make sure we’re fine,” he said. “My thanks to everyone, especially our brothers at the consulate in Istanbul.”
The participants in the flotilla — from more than a dozen countries — said they were subjected to violence and “treated like animals”. Jamal said the group was held under the sun for hours before being taken to Ashdod port, then detained for three days without adequate food or medication. “When we arrived to Ashdod port, we got treated very badly from the police. Some of the people got beaten, but a lot of swear words,” he told Anadolu Agency. “They told us to drink the same water we washed with.”
He described how Zionist forces confiscated all the activists’ belongings, except their passports. “Some people had cardiac medicine or epilepsy medicine, but they weren’t given their medication,” he said. Dr Jamal said public attention helped protect the activists during their ordeal. “The people around the world kept their eyes on the flotilla,” he said. “We need to keep our eyes on Gaza, because they are doing what they cannot do to us in Gaza.”
Abdulrahman Ghazal, a flotilla participant from Bahrain who was with Al-Mutawaa and Al-Abduljader on the same boat, said more than 25 soldiers stormed their ship. “They came pointing all their weapons and spotlights at us,” he said in a video posted on Instagram. “One soldier saw me wearing a cap with the Palestinian flag and told me to take it off. I refused — and they beat me. They beat me several times. … Their hatred was unnatural.”
Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya said diplomatic efforts are continuing to secure Al-Abduljader’s release. No official statement has been issued explaining why he remains in detention.
CAIRO: Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah on Monday reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening joint Arab social and developmental efforts to uphold human rights and promote social justice. Delivering her speech at the 82nd session of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, held at the League of Arab States headquarters in Egypt, Dr Al-Huwailah opened by expressing deep sorrow over the tragic death of three Amiri Diwan employees in a traffic accident in Sharm El-Sheikh, offering condolences to the families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
She expressed pride in Kuwait’s participation in the session, which addressed key social and developmental issues, and expressed hope it would yield decisions supporting social justice policies and the empowerment of women, girls, and persons with disabilities, particularly in political participation and gender equality. Dr Al-Huwailah noted that the session would adopt the draft agenda for the 45th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and prepare for the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled in Doha next November. She emphasized Kuwait’s aspiration for Arab countries to make a strong and active presence at these events, showcasing development achievements and exchanging experiences in social care.
Officials are pictured during the meeting. – KUNA photos
Highlighting Kuwait’s role, she said the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and the Public Authority for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities are committed to following up on the implementation of Council decisions, ensuring coordination that respects diversity and privacy while promoting social justice.
Dr Al-Huwailah concluded by thanking Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity and Head of the Executive Office Dr Maya Morsi for the warm reception and efficient organization. She also praised Egypt’s efforts in hosting the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit and its unwavering support for ending the conflict in Palestine. The Executive Office meetings are chaired by Egypt, with membership including Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, the Comoros, Lebanon and Libya, alongside the participation of the Social Affairs Sector of the League of Arab States, represented by Minister Plenipotentiary Enas Al-Farjani.- KUNA
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